Building on Melton Hill                                                                                            Building in Sturt Street

The school of arts was founded in 1866 with Captain R. Towns as the patron. It was initially located in a small rented cottage with a library of 30 books. A permanent site on Melton Hill was granted in 1872. The committee organised a competition for a building design to provide a theatre to seat 1000 people as well as a library, reading room and museum. Charles Ward received 10 pounds for his winning entry which cost £1700 to erect.

The front two storied section, 50 feet by 26 feet, consisted of two rooms divided by a spacious lobby on the ground floor, and a large reading room with museum upstairs. It had a verandah, balcony, and ornamental porch. Attached to the side was a single story hall, 80 feet by 35 with a stage 20 feet deep. The position of Resident Librarian and Secretary was advertised locally as well as in Brisbane and Rockhampton during July and August 1877. A salary of 100 pounds was offered and 5% commission on all collected receipts. Following the receipt of 60 applications it was decided to re-advertise the position locally offering a salary of 50 pounds and 10% commission on receipts.

The building opened on Thursday 20 September, 1877 with an inaugural address by the Vice-President, and Grand Ethiopian Entertainment by the local Orpheus Glee Club. A Grand calico Ball was held on Thursday 18 October to raise funds. The building served as the School of Arts until it was sold to the Queensland Government in 1889 and became the Supreme Court in 1891, but unfortunately it was destroyed by fire in 1998.

Classes commenced in the second building in Sturt Street in 1889. The Department assumed control after legislation in 1918, but classes continued in the school of arts precincts. The subjects offered in 1914 were Millinery, Dressmaking, Freehand and Perspective Drawing, Domestic Science, Cooking and Painting. Evening classes were held in Shorthand, Accountancy, Bookkeeping, Woodcarving, Telegraphy, Machine Shop Practice, Cabinet Making, Machine Drawing, Civil Service Revisal, Ticket Writing, Painting, Engine Driving, Boiler Making and Music. The technical College closed when the high school opened in 1924.

Reference:

Townsville Bulletin, Jubilee Souvenir Wednesday August 27 1913

Townsville Herald,  March 3, 10, 28, July 14, August 8, September 8, 19, 26

Davis, Sonia; Manion, Jim, Townsville Yesterday in Pen and Picture, 1978, Townsville North Queensland Newspaper Co. Ltd. 1978.

Gibson-Wilde, Dorothy M., Gateway to a Golden Land, Townsville to 1884, Studies in North Queensland History No. 7 James Cook University of Queensland, 1984, p. 194.

Gordon Noscov