page_title: Moorooka State School
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Moorooka State School / History
caption_attribution_description: English: Creator: Unidentified Location: Moorooka, Brisbane View this image at the State Library of Queensland: http://hdl.handle.net/10462/deriv/248633 Information about State Library of Queensland’s collection: http://www.slq.qld.gov.au/resources/picture-queensland
context_page_description: Moorooka State School is a heritage-listed state school at Sherley Street, Moorooka, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. The buildings were designed by Department of Public Works and Frederick George Kirkegard with the first buildings being constructed from 1928 to 1929. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 28 August 2015.
context_section_description: Moorooka State School opened in January 1929 to accommodate the growing population of a previously rural district on the southern outskirts of Brisbane. The first Sectional School building was extended in 1933 and 1946 with further Sectional School buildings to its northeast and northwest corners. In 1956 a three-storey brick and concrete classroom block in a modernist style was added, as post-war housing construction in Moorooka continued to increase the local population. The standard and purpose-built school buildings are set amongst terraced, landscaped grounds with mature trees. Apart from a brief hiatus during World War II (WWII), the school has been in continuous operation since establishment and has been a focus for the local community as a place for important social and cultural activity.
  Originally part of an area called "Boggo", which ran from Dutton Park to Rocky Water Holes (later Rocklea, c. 1884), and which was part of the traditional lands of the Turrbal people, Moorooka's development was spurred on by transport improvements. Predominantly an agricultural area until the early 20th century, the coming of the Beenleigh railway line in 1885 increased the attraction of the district for residential development. The Moorooka railway station was established in 1887 and the Moorooka Railway Station Estate was advertised in 1889, but flooding in 1893 deterred settlement of the area for some time. By 1900 Moorooka was still primarily rural, with most residents living between Ipswich Road and Beaudesert Road. The house "Greenloaning", built for Robert Bell in 1904, was on land which later became the Moorooka State School's Infant School, and his family lived there until WWII.
  Residential development occurred to the west and north of the school site in the early 20th century, assisted by the extension of the tramline to Yeronga Park in 1915. In the 1920s the area east of Ipswich Road, to the south of Yeronga Park, was used for war service housing. The tram line was extended from Yeronga Park, down Beaudesert Road as far as Mayfield Road, in 1937. However, the area around Moorooka State School (east of Beaudesert Road, between Mayfield and Evans Roads) remained largely undeveloped before WWII, apart from some housing between Bracken Street and Sherley Street.
  The establishment of schools was considered an essential step in the development of growing communities and integral to their success. Locals often donated land and labour for a school's construction and the school community contributed to maintenance and development. Schools became a community focus, a symbol of progress, and a source of pride, with enduring connections formed with past pupils, parents, and teachers.
  In 1911, the population of Moorooka was 350, rising to 791 by 1921. Pressure for a state school at Moorooka occurred from around 1912, when the Moorooka Progress Association presented a petition to the Education Department. Moorooka children either attended Rocklea State School, or Yeronga State School (established 1867 as Boggo State School). A site for a new school at Moorooka, consisting of 3 acres (1.2 ha) 1 rood 2 perches (1,100 m²), was purchased from Charles Robert Parish by the Department of Public Instruction in December 1927.
  The first building constructed for the school, during 1928, was a standard Public Works design. To help ensure consistency and economy, the Queensland Government developed standard plans for its school buildings. From the 1860s until the 1960s, Queensland school buildings were predominantly timber-framed, an easy and cost-effective approach that also enabled the government to provide facilities in remote areas. Standard designs were continually refined in response to changing needs and educational philosophy and Queensland school buildings were particularly innovative in climate control, lighting, and ventilation. Standardisation produced distinctly similar schools across Queensland with complexes of typical components.
  Attention to improving light and ventilation to achieve an optimum classroom environment culminated 
caption: Moorooka State School Band welcoming home soldiers from World War II, circa 1945
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