Public Hall and Reserve
Hamilton Highway MURGHEBOLUC, GOLDEN PLAINS SHIRE
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Statement of Significance
What is Significant?
The former State School No 1570, now the Murgheboluc Public Hall and Reserve, Hamilton Highway, Murgheboluc was built in 1874 as a result of the introduction of free, compulsory and secular education under the innovative Victorian Education Act 1872. The design of the building was standard and the use of local materials was typical. The successful contractor was F. Holyoake. The building was completed in 1874 with further improvement by Holyoake completed in 1877. The school superseded the former non-vested School No. 407 which had occupied the nearby St Andrew's Anglican Church. Its head teacher, Charles Tonner became the head teacher in the new school and stayed until 1890. The school's fortunes fluctuated with as many as 100 children in 1879 but, after a time,its opperation reduced to part-time in conjuctionwith theMount Hesse No 1370.It closed in 1934. The building became a public hall and the land became a public recreation reserve in the early 1990s. The place is now managed by a committee of management. The building is largely intact, retains a high degree of integrity and is in excellent condition. The reserve is planted out with traditional trees close to the former school and around the perimeter.
How is it Significant?
The Public Hall and Reserve, the Former State School No. 1570, Hamilton Highway, Murgheboluc is of historical, social and architectural significance to the Golden Plains Shire.
Why is it Significant?
The Murgheboluc Public Hall and Reserve is of historical significance as the second of two schools which provided a primary education in the Murgheboluc district. They are of social significance generally as a centre for the community of Murgheboluc but more specifically as an expression of the farsighted push for free, compulsory and secular education of Victoria's children. The school building is of architectural significance as a typical and relatively unchanged example of the standard design for small primary schools at the time.
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Public Hall and Reserve - Historical Australian Themes
The Australian Heritage Commission devised the Australian Historic Themes in 2001. The following themes have influenced the historical development of the Berringa School No. 905 .
6 Educating
6.1 Forming associations, libraries and institutes for self-education
6.2 Establishing schools
6.5 Educating people in remote places
8 Developing Australia's Cultural Life
8.5 Forming associations
8.5.1 Preserving traditions and group memories
8.5.3 Associating for mutual aid
8.5.4 Pursuing common leisure interests
8.14 Living in the country and rural settlements
Public Hall and Reserve - Intactness
Largely intact.
Public Hall and Reserve - Integrity
High degree of integrity externally and good internally.
Public Hall and Reserve - Physical Description 1
The hall adopts a standard design for small schools of this period. The plan comprises a single room with a small, off-centre porch. There is a weatherboard extension with a skillion roof on the west side. The walls are squared rock-faced basalt blocks laid on a slightly projecting plinth. Corners and other details of the blocks have dressed edges. There are four twelve-paned double-hung sash windows in the east elevation and pairs of eight-paned casement windows in the front and rear elevations. The windows are original and have not been enlarged, as was common late in the nineteenth and early in the twentieth century. There is a chimney located in the west elevation. The interior has been largely stripped of its fittings. The roofs are corrugated iron. There are substantial plantings of Pinus pinea (Stone Pines) towards the rear and near the school and elsewhere in the reserve there are plantings of Schinus molle (Peppercorn Trees).
Public Hall and Reserve - Physical Description 2
The whole of the school building, excluding the interiors, the major plantings and the whole of the land including the reserve.
Heritage Study and Grading
Golden Plains - Golden Plains Shire Heritage Study Phase 2
Author: Heritage Matters P/L
Year: 2009
Grading: Local
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