Meredith State School No. 1420 & Community House
5 Wallace Street, MEREDITH VIC 3333 - Property No 36200106
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Statement of Significance
What is significant?
The township of Meredith was surveyed in 1851/2 following the discovery of gold in the surrounding districts. The settlement developed as a civic and commercial centre servicing mining communities as well as surrounding pastoral properties. Several private and denomination schools were established in Meredith during the 1850s, including an Anglican School, Church of England School No. 408, a private Catholic School and a Nation School. These schools were closed when provisions were made for the construction of a state school following the introduction of free, compulsory and secular education under the Victorian Education Act 1872. Meredith State School No. 1402 opened on the 1 July 1874. The first headmaster was Mr. Sydney Johnson, who along with five assistant teachers conducted classes for an average attendance of 94 pupils. The bluestone school, of standard design featured two classrooms, separating the boys and girls. Two octagonal timber shelter sheds with timber lattice survive at each end of the original school. Plantings of mixed native trees and shrubs line the perimeter of the school yard. A large Pinus radiata (Monterey Pine) is situated on the corner of Wallace Street and Russell Street. By 1910, a three-bedroom teachers residence was constructed on the school reserve, addressing Russell Street. After the Second World War, a second population wave swept Meredith district, when the Government acquired 26 allotments of Moranghurk Estate and 51 allotments of Shelford Estate for the Soldier Settlement Scheme.
Additional classrooms, a library and administration facilities were constructed adjacent to the original school building in the late 20th century. In 1987, the former teacher's residence became the home of Meredith Community House Inc. The original Meredith State School No. 1420 and the former teachers residence is relatively intact, in good condition and retains a high degree of integrity.
How is it significant?
The Meredith State School and the former teacher's residence is of historical, social and architectural significance to the township of Meredith and the Golden Plains Shire.
Why is it significant?
The Meredith State School is of historical significance as a surviving example of a state school complex established by the Department of Education in 1874. Its continuous use as a State School demonstrates the community's commitment to providing primary education for the children of Meredith and district.
The Meredith State School is of social significance as the permanent site for the provision of free and secular education under the innovative Victorian Education Act 1872. The role of the school and the Meredith Community House as the focus of community life is reflected in the remodeling of each of the buildings in the late 20th century and addition of modern classrooms to accommodate the increased enrolments during key growth periods.
The Meredith State School is of architectural significance as a surviving example of a rural state school constructed to a Department of Education standard design in the late 19th century. The former teacher's residence has architectural significance as a surviving example of teacher housing constructed by the Department of Education to a standard design in the early 20th century.
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Meredith State School No. 1420 & Community House - Physical Description 1
The Meredith State School No. 1420 is situated on Allotment 2, Section 16, on the corner of Wallace Street (Midland Highway) and Russell Street, within the township of Meredith. The site comprises the original four acre parcel and is composed of a complex of modern portable school buildings, the 1874 school building and the former teacher's residence, now the Meredith Community House. The original school building is of standard design, built from locally quarried Lethbridge bluestone with cream brick quoins and a steep gabled corrugated iron roof. The western elevation of the school is aligned to the Midland Highway. There are two offset porches on the north and south elevations. They serve as the formal entrance into two internal classrooms, separating boys and girls. Each porch has a gabled corrugated iron roof, rectangular casement window and double timber doors. A set of three multi-pane, double-hung sash windows with multi-pane fanlights survive adjacent to each porch. The western elevation features four nine-pane double hung sash windows with stone sills. A small bluestone and brick chimney is integrated into the western elevation of the school. A timber extension links the original school building to a series of modern portable school classrooms on this elevation and the roofline of this building has been incorporated into the eaves of the original gable. Additional classrooms and administration facilities have been constructed adjacent to the original school building in the late 20th century. (These building are not included in the proposed extent of registration). Two octagonal timber shelter sheds with timber lattice survive at each end of the original school building, presumably one each for boys and girls. Plantings of mixed native trees and shrubs line the perimeter of the school yard, A large Pinus radiata (Monterey Pine) is situated on the corner of Wallace Street and Russell Street. The original Meredith State School No. 1420 is relatively intact, in good condition and retains a high degree of integrity.
The former teacher's residence is located at 4 Russell Street, at the eastern end of the school yard. It is of standard design, clad in weatherboards with two brick chimneys protruding from the high pitched corrugated iron roof. A half-timbered gable projects from the facade and features the original pair of double-hung twelve pane sash windows. A steep timber verandah with a timber deck is located on the western side of the gable. A recent extension has enlarged the rear of the building. The original Meredith State School teacher's residence, now the Meredith Community Centre is relatively intact, in good condition and retains a high degree of integrity.
Meredith State School No. 1420 & Community House - Integrity
The original Meredith State School No. 1420 is relatively intact, in good condition and retains a high degree of integrity.
The original Meredith State School teacher's residence, now the Meredith Community Centre is relatively intact, in good condition and retains a high degree of integrity.
Meredith State School No. 1420 & Community House - Physical Description 2
Extent of Registration 1) To the extent of the whole of the original state school building (excluding the interiors and the 20th century portable school room located adjacent) with a curtiledge of approximately 5 metres to the north, south and west of the building. The two octagonal timber shelter sheds and the large Pinus radiata (Monterey Pine) situated on the corner of Wallace Street and Russell Street.
Extent of Registration 2) To the extent of the former teacher's residence, excluding the interiors and excluding the portable school room located adjacent.
Meredith State School No. 1420 & Community House - Historical Australian Themes
The Australian Heritage Commission devised the Australian Historic Themes in 2001. The following themes have influenced the historical development of the Meredith State School.
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
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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MARYBOROUGH TOWN HALLVictorian Heritage Register H2152
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SubstationGolden Plains Shire
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St Josephs Catholic ChurchGolden Plains Shire
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