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State School No 797

Location 1 Faraday School Road,, FARADAY VIC 3451 - Property No B2471 File Number B2471 Level State

[1/1] B2471 Faraday State School

Statement of Significance

Faraday Primary School No. 797 is a single room school constructed of local granite in 1869. The building was designed by notable architect/engineer Thomas Bingham Munzt. It has a gable roof clad in galvanised iron, multi paned windows and consists of a classroom and entrance porch; the interior is lined in timber and plasterboard. It operated as a Common School until it was taken over by the Education Department in 1873 as a State School. The school was operated by the Education Department until its official closure in 1976.
Faraday Primary School is of historical, architectural and social significance to the State of Victoria.
The school is historically significant for its association with the Common phase of educational provision between 1862 and 1872. Prior to the introduction of full state-funded education by the Education Act of 1872, the provision of education depended on a mix of local initiative and government funding. The Faraday School reflects in its fabric and layout both the prescriptions of the Board of Education and the cooperative efforts of a small community to provide themselves with community facilities and education for their children. The plan for the building of the Faraday School was influenced by central regulations, but it also demonstrates a typical use of local materials and craftsmanship at a time when local communities in Victoria were isolated from manufacturing centres. The school demonstrates the spread of education in the 1870s to all parts of the state.
The Faraday Primary School is architecturally significant as one of only two Common Schools constructed of granite in Victoria. The school also exhibits the principal characteristics of Common School design: it is built with local materials; and its rectangular form, dimensions, placement of windows, fireplace and lack of ornamentation are typical of the period 1862 to 1872. The School is also significant for its association with architect/engineer Thomas Munzt. Munzt designed Faraday and Sutton Grange Primary Schools while employed as engineer for the Shire of Metcalfe. He went on to become the contractor for the Coode Canal, the engineer for the Melbourne Tramway in 1883 and was a founding member the Victorian Institute of Surveyors.
Faraday Primary School is socially significant because of the kidnapping of six pupils and a teacher in October in 1972 (all of whom were held for a ransom of $1 million). Although teacher and students escaped unharmed, the event focussed attention on the lack of security for isolated single teacher schools and hastened the closure of some rural schools with small enrolments.
Classified: 28/05/1970