Swanbourne High School

Statement of Significance

Swanbourne II igh School has aesthetic. historical and social cultural heritage value. Its interesting design, capitalising on a raised site giving the school commanding views, makes it quite different from ocher schools built along functionalist utilitarian lines during the 1960s. Historically, the school has been an integral part of the City of Nedlands community and surrounding areas. providing an important social function for over 35 years. It is a One example of an educational institution with a history of specialised leaching programmes 1101 provided by other high schools in the western suburbs.

Physical Description

SwnnbourncHigh School is on the corner of Alfred Road.West Coast Highway and Narla Street. The 1960s buildings are single and one and two storey. linked together with covered ways. built on the 'top plateau of the sitewith the road and carparks built around them. The playing fields to the east are at a lower level. TIle buildings generally face north and south. The views to the ocean and the city are from the east and west. The buildings. typical of the 19605 period, are simple elongated rectangular blocks. with shallow pitched roof structures. concrete supports. exposed on the outside with infill panel of external window and waU. The while painted steel window frames have a small panel at the bottom and then two square panels above. divided into three per structural grid. Horizontal banding is up to sill level of brickwork with black and white decoration, and small mosaic tiling to give a horizontal emphasis, OJ)the north side of the buildings the access corridor and balconies overlook the student areas. These have simple.steel balusters and handrails.

History

Swanbourne High School is located on a site that was once considered a wasteland. The school was built during 1961 at a cost of £338.000. Architect Robert Blatchford designed the school to take advantage of its high position. with panoramic views of the surroundlng suburbs and different ground levels. When built, tho school was thought to be able to accommodate 1.100 pupils. Theoretically the students were able to walk betweenany school blockwithout getting wet from the rain. lnitinlly only a high school. Il later grew 10 become a senior high school with interesting influences on the school curricula. Chinese W(lS taught in the 1980s owing to the number of Asian students drawn (rom GraylandsMigrant Hostel. Also. deaf students attended the school necessitating sign language classes where many hearing students and teachers learned to sign. SwanbourneHigh School has a number of specialised programmes which attract students from many parts of the metropolitan area. These include Academic Extension, Intensive Languages and a dance programme. The Dance Performance Course is the result of a unique arrangement between the Graduate School of Dance and Swanbourne High School. The partnership bas resulted in II number of students pursuing a normal course of study within the parameters of a demanding dance schedule. The Graduate College is on the SwanbourncHigh School site and successfully lnvotves students from Year 6 to Year 12. In the 1990s Swanbourne High School. with approximately 490 pupils. has been under pressure to change. Today (1998) the capacity of the school is probably at 7()O to 750 pupils. owing to changes in the internal layout

Integrity/Authenticity

High

Condition

Fair/good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update