Former Springbrook State School (QPWS Information Centre)

The National Parks Information Centre at Springbrook is located in the former 1911 school building. The school served the small community of farmers who came to the area in 1906 from Bega in New South Wales, calling themselves the Springwood Group. The name was changed to Springbrook to avoid confusion with Springwood in the Blue Mountains. After the forest areas were cleared, dairying became the main industry. Beside the school, evidence of early timber-getting may be found in the stump of a large mountain ash (Eucalyptus andrewsii also known as New England Blackbutt). The springboard marks are still evident on the stump. Thought to be close to 1000 years old, the tree was felled in 1912 because parents were concerned about safety. The beauty of the region led to the declaration of scenic reserves in 1911, with the first section of National Park declared here in 1933. At the same time, enrolments in the school began to decline. Despite a brief closure at this time, the school remained operational until 1971. A new school opened nearby in 1984 and the original school building was converted into the National Parks Information Centre housing interpretive displays on the park's natural values.