History of Applegrove Schoolhouse
In December 1912, parents of 17 children held a meeting at Ballandean to discuss the prospect of building a school, due to the increased expansion of fruit growing in the area.
Subsequent approval was given by the State Government to construct the school on 14 April 1913, on 2 acres of land surrended from Daniel O’Connor’s Agricultural Farm next to Ballandean Station, near the intersection of Washpool and Accommodation Creeks. The preferred name of “Myola”. was refused as there was already a school by that name near Cairns. The parents 2nd preference of “Applevale” was granted.
The size of the school was State standard - 21 feet x 14 feet with 2 verandahs and to be built on tall stumps from local timber. In 1913 the building was completed at a total cost of £243-10.
Officially opened on the 19 February 1914 with 20 students, the first teacher was a young woman called Josephine Boyle who had just completed her probation.
Challenges that Miss Boyle faced in her first year were a lack of fencing which saw local cattle camping under the school and leaving the place ‘in a dirty and insanitary state’, difficulty for the children to secure their horses
whilst they were learning at the school and the severe cold and wet weather.
Several months after the school opened, Miss Boyle requested the supply of a wood stove as the children had been crying due to the cold weather.
Due to the declining enrolments, the school became a ‘half-time’ school in September 1923,
sharing with the Somme State school.
The final teacher to serve at ‘Applevale’ school was Isabelle Lock, who relinquished duty on 19th August 1927.
Sometime after this, the Williamson family relocated the school building to its current location,
where amongst its uses, it served as a packing shed for fruit and vegetables.
The school building was converted to accommodation in 2000 and purchased by Peter & Karen Williams in March 2005 as an ongoing concern
In a document from the Department of Public Lands dated 18 August 1914, the name of “Applevale” school was incorrectly recorded as “Applegrove” school. Hence the current name of this property.
Extracts of how the building process evolved
have been obtained from Qld State Archives and can be viewed below.
Subsequent approval was given by the State Government to construct the school on 14 April 1913, on 2 acres of land surrended from Daniel O’Connor’s Agricultural Farm next to Ballandean Station, near the intersection of Washpool and Accommodation Creeks. The preferred name of “Myola”. was refused as there was already a school by that name near Cairns. The parents 2nd preference of “Applevale” was granted.
The size of the school was State standard - 21 feet x 14 feet with 2 verandahs and to be built on tall stumps from local timber. In 1913 the building was completed at a total cost of £243-10.
Officially opened on the 19 February 1914 with 20 students, the first teacher was a young woman called Josephine Boyle who had just completed her probation.
Challenges that Miss Boyle faced in her first year were a lack of fencing which saw local cattle camping under the school and leaving the place ‘in a dirty and insanitary state’, difficulty for the children to secure their horses
whilst they were learning at the school and the severe cold and wet weather.
Several months after the school opened, Miss Boyle requested the supply of a wood stove as the children had been crying due to the cold weather.
Due to the declining enrolments, the school became a ‘half-time’ school in September 1923,
sharing with the Somme State school.
The final teacher to serve at ‘Applevale’ school was Isabelle Lock, who relinquished duty on 19th August 1927.
Sometime after this, the Williamson family relocated the school building to its current location,
where amongst its uses, it served as a packing shed for fruit and vegetables.
The school building was converted to accommodation in 2000 and purchased by Peter & Karen Williams in March 2005 as an ongoing concern
In a document from the Department of Public Lands dated 18 August 1914, the name of “Applevale” school was incorrectly recorded as “Applegrove” school. Hence the current name of this property.
Extracts of how the building process evolved
have been obtained from Qld State Archives and can be viewed below.
