The Evolution of Gayndah State School
Gayndah State School is a heritage-listed school which prides itself on it's rich history and long tradition of Growing Generations of Gayndah families.
Construction of the National School at Gayndah commenced at the end of 1861 after members of the Gayndah community submitted designs for a primary school to the Board of General Education in 1860.
These were approved and £700 was granted towards the cost of construction. The first schoolmaster, Hercules Smith, took up duties in September 1863 and the school opened on 9 November 1863 with 47 students. In 1875 the school became Gayndah State School with the introduction of the State Education Act 1875 and establishment of the new Department of Public Instruction.
The original school building (B Block) is currently used as a conference room and general learning area, one of only a few original Queensland school buildings still in use.
A new manual arts building for boys (D Block) was constructed and opened in 1925 which still exists today. A new Domestic Science building for girls was constructed in 1936. (This building was removed in 1968 and reused as the Kindergarten building for the Crèche and Kindergarten Association on a site across the road facing Fielding Street.)
In 1940/41 A Block was erected to accommodate a growing school population. This building was used by the RAAF as the headquarters for the N0. 65 Gayndah flight squadron of the Air Training Corps until February 1945.
In the 1950s the school experienced more growth, with an increase in students as well as the introduction of secondary school classes in 1954. In 1957 another new classroom building was erected and was again extended in 1958 and 1969 creating C Block. In 1963, Gayndah State High School was established which saw the transfer of secondary students to the new site.
Construction expanded during the 1970's with the school Tuckshop built in 1974, on the site of the removed Domestic Science building, and State Preschool opened in 1976. In 1979 L Block was constructed to create a new library building at the front of the school.
Gayndah State School became a pilot school to trial Prep as an addition to primary education and F Block, a demountable building, was opened in 2007. As a result of the State Government Building Revolution, a Digital Resource Centre and Hall were built on site in 2010. The Digital Resource Centre, a new school library, was built on the site of the old tennis court.
Many current staff members have deep family connections within the Gayndah community and have worked collaboratively for many years. This has fostered a cohesive and supportive teaching environment, committed to upholding the long-standing tradition of nurturing and educating the children of the Gayndah community.
