Townsville and District Education Centre and Memorial Gates

This building was designed by the Queensland Government Architect and opened in June 1939 as the Townsville West State School. It is one of thirty similar brick schools built throughout Queensland during the Depression era. These projects created employment, delivered skills training and provided impetus to the flagging economy during this difficult time. This school was initially established in 1887 servicing Townsville’s rapidly expanding western suburbs. At the end of WWI, the school community honoured those who served by adding memorial gates to the campus, which included 200 names inscribed on marble tables attached to the arched gateways. The 1939 brick school replaced earlier timber structures which had become inadequate for local needs. During WWII, this building, like many others in Townsville, was commandeered for military purposes. A first aid ward and convalescent home were established on the first floor. After the war, the building reverted to school use. The 1963 decision to transfer Grade 8 to high school saw a reduction in enrolments. From 1975 the Townsville and District Education Centre (TADEC) was established here and expanded until the site’s closure in 2009. In 2016, proposals have been made regarding the redevelopment of the site.