Picturesque historic school precinct with tales to tell

A unique picturesque school precinct just a short walk down Kent Street from the City Hall contains impressive 19^th Century buildings and a museum that marks Maryborough’s important role in male and female education and immigration in the fledging state of Queensland.

Maryborough Central Primary School first came into being in 1862, making it Queensland’s seventh primary school. Located within the School of Arts, it soon outgrew the premises and in 1866 moved to the corner of Alice & Lennox Streets (where the current fire station is). On the corner of Kent and John Streets a new immigration barracks was built in 1875-76, though believed to be never used, until 1877 when Maryborough Central School moved for the final time to that location and occupied the Barracks.

The Maryborough Boys Grammar School further down the right side of Kent street (heading west) was built in 1881 – one of the first in Queensland after the Grammar School Act of 1860 provided that any Queensland town which could raise £1000 was entitled to £2000 to support construction of a grammar school within the town.

Maryborough’s gentlemen had been mulling over the need for a boys’ school for 10 years at meetings in the School of Arts. Money was already in hand, the offer was seized and the grand brick school started but some strong women in the city had agitated for a girls’ grammar school.

More than £1000 raised at a Grand Bazaar in September 1880 was redirected to the girls’ grammar school after the Queensland Government scratched its head and decided the £2000 subsidy could also be used for a female school.

The Maryborough Girls Grammar School was an even more splendid building on the other side of Kent Street and was also completed in 1881, making the city one of the foremost in Queensland high school history.

The schools were combined as the Maryborough State High School in 1974 after teenage girls and boys spent almost 100 years peering and flirting across the street.

Both sides of Kent Street have nurtured dozens of Australian high achievers in public life, academia, sports and arts. It has a museum marking the rich history but going anywhere near the block is not recommended during hectic school drop off and pick up times. Phone the school to request a tour 07 4120 9333.  It doesn’t have set hours: open by appointment only.