100 Years of School House

100 years of School House

School House is Churchie’s historic heart. As the first permanent building at the East Brisbane campus, we are proudly celebrating our rich heritage.

Churchie’s School House, the first permanent building on the East Brisbane campus, is a historic 100 years old. Originally the hub of all school activities and administration, School House is now the centre of our boarding precinct and home to the Years 2 and 3 classrooms. Together with The Centenary Library, named in honour of School House, these buildings are the heart of Churchie— our heritage and our future.

In 1917, Churchie had outgrown its premises at St John’s Cathedral. In a location that may have been deemed ‘too far out of town’ by some, the School Council purchased 34 acres of the Barker Estate in East Brisbane. It was dairy grazing land with a large, uncleared river flat and a ‘pocket’ that was prone to flooding.

After the laying of the foundation stone in October 1917, construction was completed with School House opening on 12 February 1918. The building included headmaster’s and administrative offices, a dining hall and kitchen, accommodation for masters and dormitories for boarders.

Student numbers grew rapidly, with boarders sleeping on the open verandas for a period. By 1928, new buildings were completed on each side of School House. Also, a tower at the rear provided additional accommodation and spectacular views. As the student population continued to grow, new buildings were needed: Gerald House (1934), Goodwin House (1946) and Donaldson House (1937). For a period, the verandas were enclosed, with every available space being used to accommodate boarding students.

In 1991, the School Council commissioned a restoration project to bring School House back to its original character and style. Verandas were restored, recreating the broad open-air spaces. Gerald House, constructed on the other side of Oaklands Parade, eased the accommodation pressure on School House.

From 2007, boarders no longer resided in School House, with the former dormitories on the eastern side becoming Prep School

classrooms. From 2015 an extensive refurbishment programme occurred to modernise the facilities, focusing on the dining hall and catering areas. The original office of the headmaster on the ground floor was retained and refurbished. During the refurbishments, hand prints made by boarders during the original construction were uncovered, bringing us face-to-face with the building’s rich heritage.

School House 2017

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Dining room, renovated 2016

School House foundation stone

School House 1918

School House veranda, 1921, being used as a boarders' dormitory to accommodate growing student numbers. As the verandahs sloped to the outside, two bricks were provided for each bed to keep level.