Beaconsfield school gets heritage gold star

The former Beaconsfield Primary School, a site still dedicated to education after more than a century, has been heritage listed.

Heritage Minister John Castrilli said the earliest built of the school's facilities were among the first civic buildings in Beaconsfield and its later additions demonstrated changing ideologies in education.

"The original Federation arts and crafts-style senior school was built in 1894 and the infants' school was built in 1898," Mr Castrilli said.

"The senior school reflects the style of its likely architect, the renowned George Temple Poole.

"Poole was also responsible for the Beaconsfield Post Office, major additions to the Fremantle Arts Centre and the Perth Mint.

"The infants classroom with open-air pavilion, built in 1913-14, reflects the Montessori approach to teaching, which was introduced into Western Australian schools about this time.

"By the mid-1930s, the use of pavilions was less common, with teachers deciding these were hot and dusty in summer and cold and draughty in winter.

"The former Beaconsfield Primary School is highly valued by the local community, past students and teachers, for its role as a school for more than 80 years.

"Adding the school to the Heritage Council's State Register of Heritage Places is a great way to honour its rich history and preserve its stories for future generations."

The site currently houses the Fremantle-Peel District Education Office.