History

This is just a short summary of Biddeston State School History. A more detailed account of the school’s history, historical aspects of Biddeston and surrounds can be found in “From Tent to Triumph” – A celebration of 75 years of Education at Biddeston. Written and compiled by Ian W. Clarke.
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See office staff for more details about this book.

In 1880 a ten acre block was gazetted as a school reserve on the Oakey-Southbrook Road, however it was another 39 years before Biddeston finally got its school.

A tent measuring some 20’x14’ became Biddeston State School, opened on Tuesday 14^th October 1919 with 14 children. Mrs Margaret Cecilia Cloherty Anderson was the school’ first principal/teacher. The conditions were less than ideal with hot humid summer months and in winter the blinds were lowered to protect against winds although icy cold draughts still managed to find their way in.

Pupil numbers had increased to 21 in September 1920. On 18^th February 1921, approval was given for the construction of a new building by the Department’s Construction Branch at the cost of $360. The new building was completed and ready for use on 10^th October 1921. It was only slightly bigger in size than the old tent that it replaced. Two years after the completion of the new building the committee was worried that the school was overcrowded. In 1925 there were 32 children enrolled with more coming after the holidays and in years to come. The Department did not think that enrolments would continue to rise and all requests for extensions to the school building were rejected. In a building 21’x14’ it was first thought to be adequate with eight sq feet (Department formula) allowed for each child. But when four desks and forms, a table and some limited shelving were added it reduced the size to suit no more than 24 children, not thirty-two plus.

Following an outbreak of diphtheria in 1925, Evelyn Cundith reopened the school at the beginning of 1926 and found no-one in attendance. After tests were carried out by the Commonwealth Health Laboratories, only one carrier was found. Under Departmental instructions the school remained closed for a further two weeks. In 1926 the Committee offered to cart the raw materials from the railway station, and erect an extension if the Department would only pay for the materials cost by the Department refused this modest request due to financial strictures. In April 1927 the then local member and future Queensland Premier, Arthur Edward Moore visited the school and was less than impressed with the conditions at Biddeston. He wrote a strongly worded letter to the Department and $25 was found to erect a verandah.

Enrolments through the Great Depression remained relatively static but declined after 1930. After WWII the number of children increased to a point where the existing building was totally inadequate. In August 1951 the Department requested the Works Department to replace the building however nothing happened until 1954. At this stage there were 45 children in attendance. In 1954 the new schoolroom was ready for use, measuring 24’x21’, it had an eight foot verandah along the north side. The old schoolroom remained in use by the lower grades until 1959 when it was sold to the local storekeeper, Willem (Wim) Roater for the use as a storeroom. By 1957 the school was again overcrowded and approval for an additional classroom and library-staffroom was granted on 22^nd May 1958. The new classroom was added to the eastern end of the 1954 building and had folding doors placed between the two rooms so they could be opened to provide one long room. Further to the east an internal staircase was provided and beyond that an office-cum-staffroom. Beneath this room was one of equal size which was used as a library and occasional craft activities room. Unfortunately the small room was inadequate for library purposes.

In the early 1960s the School Committee wanted to find a suitable water supply for the school beyond the provision of drinking water. They wanted to install septic toilets and make a serious attempt at beautifying the school rounds. A suitable and adequate water supply was needed to be found that would last through periods of drought. In 1962 the Department of Public Health carried out an analysis of the water from Fox’s Well and found it unsuitable for human consumption. Several more unsuccessful attempts were made until in 1966 when Mr JL King sampled the water from the well and laboratory tests showed that it was suitable for human consumption providing that it was first softened and pollutants could be removed. The supply from the well was adequate until a bore was put down neat the residence in the late 1970s. It was then that serious efforts at beautification of the school grounds could begin.

Teachers often experienced considerable difficulty in finding suitable living accommodation as commuting was not an option in the early years before good roads and fast cars. Several Biddeston families boarded teachers and assistant teachers in their homes. In 1964, Biddeston was at last provided with a teacher’s residence which was moved here from the recently closed Elphinstone School. Taking up residency in early 1965 was Mr and Mrs V Litzow and family.

Although there was a period of growth during the 1960s there came a threat of closure. A letter from the Regional Director advising of the possibility of closure due to falling enrolments was read at the second P&C Association meeting on 27^th July 1972. After several meetings and ballots a letter dated 27^th September was received from Mr Jack Thistlewaite, Regional Director, advised that the final vote was thirteen for closure and seven against. It was stated that the Director-General did not consider the vote strong enough to warrant the schools closure.

With the threat of closure over, enrolments increased during the 70s and there was a need for more room, better facilities and especially a resource room. A two room demountable classroom was provided towards the end of 1970. It was positioned in its current location, some ten metres to the south west of the 1954 building. The additional space now allowed for a library to be set up in what had been the second upstairs classroom.

The Department decided in 1978 to locate a Preschool centre at Biddeston with the construction of the ground floor room abutting the western end of the 1954 building. An additional interior staircase links this area to the verandah on the older building.

In March 1977 Regional Director Thistlewaite informed the Director-General in a letter that “Application has been received from the Principal of Biddeston State School, supported by his Parents’ and Citizens’ Association, for the purchase of additional land to increase the size of the Biddeston State School Reserve. The present area including the residence enclosure is three (3) acres”. The Department of Education through the Lands Department purchased of a block of five acres, from the late Mr Eric Werner, which today provides a couple of football fields and room for various athletics activities. In March of 1978 plans were drawn up for a new toilet block which was built in 1979. During the 1980s and through the 1990s this new area along and the land immediately adjacent has benefited from the planting of many trees. Although during the 1980s there was a lull in building activities, enrolments continued to increase gradually.

1990 saw the construction of the Teaching Block 3 immediately to the south of the demountable classroom block. In 1993 some of the original internal walls which had been used to divided up the 1959 second classroom were removed to create a larger, brighter staffroom and teachers’ Resource Centre and the enlarged Workroom. The residence and older buildings were repainted in 1994 to match the colour scheme used on Teaching Block 3.

Biddeston State School continues to grow and provides a happy & enjoyable learning environment with up to date facilities for your children’s primary school education.