FORMER GREEN LAKE STATE SCHOOL SITE
BERRIWILLOCK-WOOMELANG ROAD BANYAN, BULOKE SHIRE
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Statement of Significance
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FORMER GREEN LAKE STATE SCHOOL SITE - History
There is little documentary evidence regarding the school other than the information listed on the plaque, which states that the Green Lake State School was opened in 1915. A 1916 newspaper article in the Sea Lake Times and Berriwillock Advertiser mentioned that a ball and supper was held at the Green Lake State School. However, the article also mentions that “the school building used at present for school purposes was the well-known country residence of Mr Malcolm McLennan, now in the possession of Mr Smith, who has leased it to the Department until a State building has been erected” (Sea Lake Times and Berriwillock Advertiser, 3 June 1916, p. 3). It is unclear if this earlier building was in the same location as the later school building. A historical search statement (included in the attachments) indicates that neither McLennan nor Smith were associated with SPI 18/PP3905, suggesting that the original school was elsewhere. A plan of the layout of the Green Lake State School is provided as an attachment. This shows a small school room with a verandah on the western side and a cloakroom on the north-western corner. There is no indication of other sheds or buildings being present, including toilet facilities. The building is constructed on capped piles although it is unclear if these are concrete or timber. The plan notes that the school building was likely originally constructed for the State School at Tungie before being removed and re-erected at Green Lakes. This is confirmed by tender notifications issued in February 1920 (c.f. The Herald, 5 February 1920, pg. 12). However, it is noted that there are also a cluster of tender requests from 1919 indicating that the reverse was true – that the building was to be moved from Green Lakes to Tungie (c.f. The Herald, 30 October 1919, pg. 12). It is unclear whether the first tenders were in error or whether there was a swapping of buildings. The school building is recorded on the plaque as being closed in 1922. This could not be independently confirmed. In 1944, SPI 18/PP3905 was owned by E.T. McLoughlan. The Green Lake State School itself was not located on any historical maps or aerials of the district.FORMER GREEN LAKE STATE SCHOOL SITE - Interpretation of Site
In 1915, the Green Lake State School was noted as opening, with a newspaper account from 1916 indicating that the school building was the previous residence of Mr Malcolm McLennan which was now owned by Mr Smith who leased it to the Department of Education.A historical search statement (included in the attachments) indicates that neither McLennan nor Smith were associated with SPI 18PP3905, suggesting that the original school was elsewhere. There is also uncertainty about whether the school building was moved to the present location from Tungie, or whether the building was actually moved there in the last years of the school operation, which is reported as having been in 1922 when the school was listed as being closed on the information plaque. The history of the site is however closely linked with its use as a school, and any archaeological evidence is likely to relate to educational activies and the day-to-day function of the school. The site is currently used for private agricultural cropping. As such, agricultural activities such as grazing and ploughing may have impacted any historical archaeological deposits which may be present.
Heritage Inventory Description
FORMER GREEN LAKE STATE SCHOOL SITE - Heritage Inventory Description
The site of the Green Lake State School contains a memorial plaque indicating the approximate location of the Green Lake State School (No. 3921). The plaque indicated that the Green Lake State School opened in 1915 and closed in 1922. The site is located within a heavily disturbed paddock, with cropping and ploughing surrounding a cleared area where a water tank was present. Access to the site was difficult, as it was fenced off and lies on private property in a cultivated field. However, the memorial plaque was present adjacent to the road corridor and is indicated by a brown tourist attraction road sign. An inspection of the site was unable to determine the precise location of the school, although the presence of a large water tank and fragments of concrete on the ground surface approximately 55 metres north of the memorial plaque may indicate where the school was built. The cleared area surrounding the tank is considered to have archaeological potential.
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