Government high school awarded heritage listing

25/9/01
The State Government has listed John Curtin College of the Arts in Fremantle on Western Australia's Register of Heritage Places.
Environment and Heritage Minister Dr Judy Edwards said the college had been an important education focus for the Fremantle community for nearly half a century.
"Constructed in 1956, the college was the first Government built secondary school in the South-West metropolitan region," Dr Edwards said.
"It was also one of the first post-World War II secondary schools built in the State."
The college was named after Australian Prime Minister John Curtin, in recognition of his contribution to the area during his 14 years as the Federal Member for Fremantle.
The school oval was built on the site of the former Skinner Street cemetery, Fremantle's principal cemetery from 1852 to 1899.
Dr Edwards said that the central part of the site had also been the location of anti-aircraft batteries, which were part of the World War II defences network known as 'Fortress Fremantle'.
The first building to be constructed, the Manual Arts building, opened in 1943 as a two-storey Trades block, which was originally to become part of a new Fremantle Technical High School.
"By the 1950s, the educational system was under pressure from the postwar 'baby boom' population growth and classroom shortages stemming from a shutdown of school buildings during the war years," Dr Edwards said.
An intensive building program began which saw the construction of John Curtin College of the Arts, and the Armadale, Mount Lawley and Governor Stirling High Schools.
"The vision for the school included a two-storey block with verandahs overlooking a courtyard and stage and an open-air, 2,500 seat theatre," the Minister said.
Construction took place in three stages from 1954 to 1958. When the college opened in 1956, it comprised of five classrooms and two science rooms.
Its 2,500 students and 144 staff were spread across five other buildings: the Princess May, Finnerty Street, North Fremantle and Fremantle Boys' Annexes and the East Street Trades Centre.
By 1960, however, most students were housed under the one roof.
Dr Edwards said John Curtin College was one of the first schools to specialise in dance during a period of educational change in the 1970s, when secondary schools began developing their own educational policies.
"This helped to ensure its continuing success," she said.
"When students numbers declined in the late 1970s, its specialist theatre arts and dance program attracted a lot of students from outside the Fremantle area."
In 1987, a new Performing Arts complex was built to accommodate the new courses and included a dance studio named after former student Paul Mercurio of Strictly Ballroom fame.
Media contact: John Carey 9220 5050