STATE SCHOOL NO. 971 (FORMER)
538 WINNAP-NELSON ROAD, DRIK DRIK, GLENELG SHIRE
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Statement of Significance
The Former State School 971 and its associated shelter shed are located on the Winnap-Nelson Road, 5.5km south-south-west of its intersection with the Princes Highway. It was built of local bluestone and limestone by Owen Jones, a local Welshman, with help from the community. It comprised a single room with a timber porch being added later. The school started in 1873 and continued until 1903 when it went part time. The first head teacher was Charles Stewart Dunbar who was also the post master. (His wife taught at Dartmoor, walking the eight miles each day.) A small timber residence was provided adjacent to the school but this was removed in the 1930s. In the 1920s the head teacher was Wallace Malseed who is amongst those listed on the memorial gates. Two notable pupils were the Rev. Graham Bucknall, a Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Victoria and J. L. Holmes, an Inspector of Schools. The complex includes a traditional octagonal timber shelter shed, later decorated with naïve murals painted by the pupils. The school has closed and is now owned privately. The complex retains a very high degree of integrity and is in good condition.
How is it Significant?
The Former State School and its associated shelter shed including its murals are of historical and architectural significance to the Glenelg Shire.
Why is it Significant?
The former State School 971 is of historical significance as the physical remnant of the facility built at Drik Drik after the introduction of free, secular and compulsory education in Victoria in the 1860s. Its construction, decline and eventual abandonment reflect the changing needs and demographic of the district's families and their lives and of government policy. It is of architectural interest for its standard form, its use of local materials and for the traditional octagonal shelter shed which survives. The murals in the shelter shed are an important example of folk art.
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STATE SCHOOL NO. 971 (FORMER) - Usage/Former Usage
Holiday weekender
STATE SCHOOL NO. 971 (FORMER) - Physical Description 1
The complex includes two structures. The single-room school building is stone with coursed limestone rubble walls and dressed limestone quoins, sills and lintels. The quoins continue up the gables. The number of the school, SS 971 and date of construction, 1873, are carved in a stone plaque above the front door, which is in the north elevation, but this is now obscured by the addition of a timber porch. A timber plaque, formerly set below the ventilator opening in the north gable is now located in the gable of the porch. There are three windows on the east elevation, one on the south and one on the north elevation. The windows are 12 paned, double-hung sashes. There is a large chimney breast in the west wall. The interiors, which were always simple, retain some of their original details. The metal ventilators in the ridge line of the roof have been removed and two skylights have been introduced in the western face of the roof. Further south the octagonal timber shelter shed survives. The eastern elevation has double ledge and brace doors. The other seven sides are weatherboard with a lattice section at the top of each wall. The interior walls are lined with bead edged boards which have been naively painted as murals by children. There is a bench against the walls on seven sides. The iron of the roof, which appears to be old if not original, is stamped 'New Vale' and 'Kiwi' within a lozenge. There are World War One memorial gates at the entrance, although the bronze plaques have been relocated to the gates at the Drik Drik Cemetery.These these relate to the memorial avenue of Ficus macrophylla, (Moreton Bay Figs) in the roadside. Unfortunately, the location of the memorial wrought iron gate is unknown.
STATE SCHOOL NO. 971 (FORMER) - Physical Conditions
The school building is in good condition. The shelter shed is in fair condition. The gates are in good condition.
STATE SCHOOL NO. 971 (FORMER) - Historical Australian Themes
5. WORKING
5.1: Working in harsh conditions
6. EDUCATING
6.2: Establishing schools
6.3: Training people for the workplace
6.5: Educating people in remote places
9. MARKING THE PHASES OF LIFE
9.7: Dying
9.7.3 Remembering the deadHeritage Study and Grading
Glenelg - Glenelg Shire Heritage Study Part One
Author: Carlotta Kellaway, David Rhodes Mandy Jean
Year: 2002
Grading:Glenelg - Glenelg Heritage Study Stage Two (a)
Author: Heritage Matters
Year: 2006
Grading:
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METHODIST CHURCH (FORMER)Glenelg Shire
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UNITING CHURCHGlenelg Shire
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Ficus MacrophyllaNational Trust
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