Pomona State School (former)

DETAILS

Alternative NamePomona & District Kindergarten and Childcare CentreDescription
Pinbarren Provisional School was originally established on this site, with the school opening in 1897. As more settlers arrived in the area and student numbers increased, the original school building became too small. In 1908, tenders were called for the erection of anew Pomona State School with W. Blytheway winning the tender to construct the new school building, verandahs, fences and gates.

The cost of £813/17/ included moving the old school building to a corner of the grounds and converting it to a residence for the head teacher Mr George Grant Dan. The school opened in March 1909 and was built on high stumps with the area underneath used as a play shed. It was hailed as one of the most up to date buildings on the North Coast Railway Line at the time. Around this time beautification projects were undertaken including the planting of weeping figs, and camphor laurels in the school grounds.

Extensions were made to the school in 1913 and again in 1928 to accommodate the ever-increasing enrolment of pupils. In 1935, both a domestic science building and a manual training building were added to the school site. Pupils from as far away as Eumundi, Tewantin, Cootharaba, Carters Ridge and Kin Kin travelled by bus and train to Pomona to attend vocational classes.

In 1945, Queensland’s first secondary school department was opened at Pomona State School. Small regional schools closed as transport facilities and roads improved and in 1945, the Ringtail School and Cootharaba Lakes School buildings were moved to Pomona and added to the State School site for use as the Library and Infants Room. In 1946, Boreen Junction (Kareewa) School was also relocated to the Pomona State School site and became the science classroom. Following the move of Pomona State School to its current location in Station Street, a proposal by the State Government to sell the former School Reserve for public housing met with strong opposition from the residents of Pomona and Cooroy. Local residents agitated to have the land retained as a public park.

In August 1985, the Minister for Lands, Forestry and Police, Mr Bill Glasson, flew to Pomona by helicopter, landing on the School Reserve and met with local identities. Noosa Shire Councillor Peter Hansen spoke to the Minister of the importance of retaining the area as a public park for community use. He also said the old school building could be used for the Pomona Kindergarten. At the time, the kindergarten group had been making use of the enclosed space under the Pomona Memorial Hall. The representations were successful and in December 1985, the Pomona and District Kindergarten Association was granted a licence by Noosa Shire Council to occupy the old Pomona State School building from the beginning of the 1986 school year. The Pomona and District Kindergarten has been in operation in the building since that date.Address21 , Reserve Street, Pomona

Photograph

Group photo, Pomona Community Kindergarten, Pomona, ca 1960

Play time, Pomona Community Kindergarten, Pomona, ca 1960

Pomona township nestled at foot of Mt Cooroora, ca 1920s

Pupils, Pomona State School, School Street, Pomona, ca 1911

Maps & Plans

Architectural plans, Pomona State School (former), 1908

Architectural plans, Pomona State School and Residence, 1908

Article & Manuscript

Pomona State School (former) - Local Heritage Register Place Card

IDENTIFIERS

Subject (Keywords)Schools

CONNECTIONS

LocalityPomonaHeritage ListingNoosa Local Heritage RegisterMenuLocation | PomonaTopic | Community