Back to search results
Old Hartley Street School
General
Significance
Description
History
Gallery
Resources
More images...
Status
Permanent Declaration
Type
Place
Nominated
11/APR/95
Nomination Accepted
11/APR/95
Assessment Report Considered
24/MAY/95
Signed By Minister
22/JUL/98
Gazetted
19/AUG/98
Publish Notice Of Declaration
04/SEP/98
LGA
Alice Springs Municipality
Statement Of Heritage Value
The former Hartley Street School was initially constructed in 1930 to cater for an increase in population resulting from the town's status as a railway terminal. Enrolments over the next decade caused continual overcrowding and in 1945 a Kindergarten and Classroom, designed by the architect, B.C.G. Burnett, was constructed.
The wooden floors and distinctive octagonal shape of the new addition with its adjacent classroom, provide a great contrast with the concrete floored, simple design of the earlier construction. The buildings reflect the changing styles and requirements of school design at different periods.
On 20 September 1950, the first broadcast was made from a small studio inaugurating the "School of the Air".
In 1953, students of secondary level and four teachers were moved to a new school under construction at the base of Anzac Hill. By 1964, the school was destined to be closed as the first three grades had already been moved to the new school at Traeger Park with the last remaining pupils transferring in 1965.
The school was used as a depot for a short time but it was not long before it was in a derelict condition. Being centrally located, the old school buildings were close to demolition before the National Trust (McDouall Stuart Branch) gained wide public support for their retention.
Value
Historic
Instrument