FORMER DENOMINATIONAL SCHOOL

The Maldon former Church of England Denominational School is a stone, brick, timber and iron roofed building located on a sloping site in Church Street on the corner of Camp Street. The first stone base and brick walled building was constructed in 1856-7 to serve both as school and to be used for church services and Sunday school. The building was severely damaged in a storm in 1857, and was eventually reconstructed on the same stone base in 1862, using local ragstone for the walls, with brick Tudor style surface ornamentation. A two storey brick tower with bellcote two the west and two gabled brick porches to the east extend from the rectangular plan. A timber classroom was added to the north end a few years later, with a skillion room extending from its west side. The school became Common School No 431 in 1862, and briefly State School 431 in 1873. The building was used as part of Maldon State School No 1254, before the new State School buildings were opened in 1875. The former Denominational School building was then used as a Sunday School for many years. The building is in good condition and the original fabric remains highly intact.

The former Denominational School is of historical, aesthetic and architectural importance to the State of Victoria.

The Maldon Denominational School is of historical importance for its association with the early provision of education to the burgeoning population in the central goldfields. The layout of entrances and classrooms illustrates early educational practice. The building is one of a small number of early substantial buildings which are integral to the early history of the goldfields township of Maldon.

The Maldon Denominational School exhibits a rare and rich combination of local vernacular form and materials, and English vernacular revival surface decoration in Tudor style. The building is relatively complex amongst denominational school buildings which, though showing great variety, were mostly simple in plan. Tudor decoration is uncommon amongst denominational schools of this early period which usually adopted ecclesiastical Gothic Revival style. The Maldon Denominational School is important as one of the few remaining largely intact non-vested Denominational school buildings in the State.

The Maldon Denominational School is important for the aesthetic value of its local ragstone construction which displays skilful use of the colours and of the working characteristics of the local material.

Group

Education

Category

School - State (public)