FORMER YARRA PARK PRIMARY SCHOOL NO.1406

The Former Yarra Park Primary School No.1406 was designed by prominent Melbourne architect Charles Webb. The west wing was completed in 1874 and the east wing in 1877. The builder was James Gillon. The Former Yarra Park Primary School No.1406 is a two-storey polychromatic brick structure on bluestone footings. It is in the Tudor style, with principle facades to both Punt Road and Wellington Parade. There are drip moulds to the windows, the gable ends are parapeted and the string course is strongly expressed. The quoins are in a distinctive zigzag pattern. Internally the original slate blackboards may still survive.

How is it significant?

Former Yarra Park Primary School No.1406 is of architectural and historical significance to the State of Victoria.

Why is it significant?

Former Yarra Park Primary School No.1406 is of architectural significance as a school design by prominent Melbourne architect Charles Webb, who was also responsible for the Windsor Hotel, the Alfred Hospital and Royal Arcade. The Yarra Park Primary School No.1406 was the model for decorative detail in 1874 at both Primary School No.1030 at Carisbrook and No.1428 at Eaglehawk North. The distinctive polychromatic brickwork and Tudor style was repeated by Webb at Primary School No.1253 in South Melbourne in 1881. The distinctive facades of the Former Yarra Park Primary School No.1406 contribute to the streetscape at the junction of two arterial roads, Punt Road and Wellington Parade.

Former Yarra Park Primary School No.1406 is historically significant as one of the first of group of new primary schools built after the passing of the 1872 Education Act, an Act that enabled compulsory secular education in Victoria. Former Yarra Park Primary School No.1406 was one of only two schools built immediately after the passing of the Act to install slate slabs to the walls as blackboards.

Group

Education

Category

School - State (public)