Original Applecross school buildings to have heritage listing

13/2/96

The State Government has announced that the original Applecross Primary School buildings are to be permanently listed on the Western Australian Register of Heritage Places.

Heritage Minister Richard Lewis said the buildings, which consisted of a schoolroom and adjacent teacher's house, represented the first purpose-built primary school in Applecross.

"Built in 1913, the complex is closely associated with the establishment, growth and consolidation of educational services in the Applecross area," Mr Lewis said.

"The demand for the school came from an increasing number of people moving into the area who had school-age children needing an education."

The first Applecross school opened in 1905 and operated from the local Road Board hall, as there were not enough pupils to warrant a school being built.

The number of children requiring education continued to increase and, together with the Road Board hall's poor state of repair, led to the Education Department looking for a suitable site for a primary school.

Land agents in the area offered the department a site free of charge in 1912 on the condition that a new school was built within six months.   

In 1913, construction of the one-room wooden schoolroom was completed at a cost of £783 and officially opened on September 4.

The Minister said a second classroom was built in 1918 due to overcrowding. However, this was only a temporary solution.

"A steady increase in student numbers led to the first of the brick classrooms being built in 1945 and there were further additions in 1948, 1954 and 1959," he said.

"The construction work undertaken in 1954 saw the 1913 schoolroom moved to its present position.

"In 1978, a student teacher at the school suggested that the original schoolroom, which was being used as a storeroom, be restored.

"In 1980 restoration work was completed and since then the room has been used to remind students of what school life was like at the beginning of the century."

Mr Lewis said the listing ensured the buildings had the full protection of the Heritage of Western Australia Act.

"A recent State Government grant of $2,500 for a heritage assessment and the preparation of a conservation plan will also benefit the preservation of the site," he said.

Media contact : Bronwyn Hillman 222 9595, 221 1377