Footscray Primary School SS253
100 Geelong Road, FOOTSCRAY VIC 3011 - Property No 2037005900
-
Add to tour
You must log in to do that.
-
Share
-
Shortlist place
You must log in to do that.
- Download report
Statement of Significance
An architecturally accomplished and relatively unaltered school complex (1860-82) which contains the oldest public building in the city and is built from the city's own wall material, basalt masonry.
-
-
Footscray Primary School SS253 - Physical Description 1
Lawrence Burchell, school historian, has compared the design to Stawell and St. Arnaud school (1878-9), both built of brick rather than stone. The common theme to these (and many other) schools is the use of two main transverse gabled bays with a central lesser gable set in a linking wing. A tower, either expressed or confined to the roof, augmented the centre gable. Yarraville primary school shares this formula, but its later date is reflected in its two-storied and parapeted form. Valuable elements at Footscray include the carved timber gable ornamentation and the asymmetrically placed round bell-tower.
The old wing is still discernible, set at an angle to Geelong Road and near the Commercial Road corner. Once a single classroom gabled building with a porch at the east end, major gabled additions have been made to the west end; all being of stone and one rendered over. Typical of early public halls or schools the roof line is much lower than its 1880s counterparts and the openings are trimmed with cream brick.
To the north of the 19th century classrooms is the red brick Edwardian infant school with what appears to be matching added wings: this building is undistinguished architecturally but still expressive of its construction date. Apart from the sea of asphalt, landscape elements include mature Pepper trees, presumably planted in the 1900s.
Footscray Primary School SS253 - Integrity
External Integrity
(given additions cited above)
Roof slates have been replaced with sympathetic shingle tiles, finials and carved tracery in the gable apexes of the 1880s added rooms have been removed, openings have been sheeted over in the 1860 wing and the perimeter fence replaced. This list is not completeFootscray Primary School SS253 - Physical Description 2
Streetscape
It is a major complex situated at a major intersection in the city and relates to the other public buildings in Barkly Street and the other corner buildings at the intersection.
Heritage Study and Grading
Maribyrnong - City of Footscray Urban Conservation Study
Author: Graeme Butler
Year: 1989
Grading:
-
-
-
-
-
FORMER BARKLY THEATREVictorian Heritage Register H0878
-
PRIMARY SCHOOL NO.253Victorian Heritage Register H1713
-
FOOTSCRAY RAILWAY STATION COMPLEXVictorian Heritage Register H1563
-
-