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Attendees at the Grandchester State School centenary celebration, Grandchester, Ipswich, January 1978
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TitleAttendees at the Grandchester State School centenary celebration, Grandchester, Ipswich, January 1978Date Created28 January 1978AcknowledgementThe Queensland Times
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DescriptionGrandchester State School was opened on the 30th January 1878 in Grandchester, which had previously been known as 'Bigge's Camp' by European settlers, and known as 'Googabilla' by the Ugarapul People. 'Googabilla' means 'honey' in the language of the Ugarapul People. Bigge's Camp was named after pioneer Frederick Bigge, elder brother of Cleveland pioneer Francis Bigge.
In 1865, when the train line opened from Ipswich was opened, Governor Bowen suggested the name 'Bigge's Camp' be changed to Grandchester, which literally means 'Big' 'Camp' in Latin.
In 1870, the people of Grandchester proposed a school be built for the community.
In 1876, Grandchester State School was completed. The cost of building the school was 244 pounds, 9 shillings, and amount worth over $40 000 in 2020s Australian Dollars.
On 29 January 1878, the school was officially opened by head teacher James W. McDonald. There were 17 students that year.
In 1916, the school building burned down and was rebuilt in a different part of the same property.
In 1978, the Grandchester State School celebrated its centenary with parades, historical reenactments, food, and the setting down of a time capsule. The time capsule was stored in a PVC pipe set into the podium of a sundial installed into the school grounds.
In 2003, Grandchester State School celebrated its 125th anniversary where the sundial time capsule, sealed in 1978, was opened. Don Livingstone, member of the Ipswich City Council for Ipswich West at the time, was present at the anniversary celebrations and for the opening of the time capsule. From his speech on 12 March 2003, he states that the time capsule contained an assortment of school supplies and paraphernalia, "[including] chalk, rubbers, pencils, coins, newspapers, and a cassette tape." A new time capsule was sealed at the 125th anniversary celebration event, which was sealed and buried in the school grounds. It contains schoolwork and a computer disk and is set to be unburied and opened in 2028.References (online)Indigenous Place Names - Extracts from 'Aboriginal Place Names' by A Reed - Ipswich City Council - Planning Branch - [accessed 31 July 2023] <indigenous-place-names-pdf-132-kb-ipswich-city-council>Grandchester State School - Don Livingstone - Queensland Parliament - 12 March 2003 - [Accessed 31 July 2023] <Don Livingstone spk Ipswich West 20030312-1.PDF>Queensland Places - Bigge's Camp - Grandchester - State Library of Queensland - [accessed 31 July 2023] <queensland-places-bigges-camp-grandchester>Queensland school openings, closures and name changes - Queensland Government - - Education - [accessed 31 July 2023] <historical-summary-prior-1999.xlsx>Former state Labor MP and Ipswich councillor Don Livingstone dies - Sarah Motherwell - The Courier Mail - 15 October 2015 - [accessed 7 August 2023] <446a62eb02dc7f3d1bd35fe97fb4d7d5>
In 1865, when the train line opened from Ipswich was opened, Governor Bowen suggested the name 'Bigge's Camp' be changed to Grandchester, which literally means 'Big' 'Camp' in Latin.
In 1870, the people of Grandchester proposed a school be built for the community.
In 1876, Grandchester State School was completed. The cost of building the school was 244 pounds, 9 shillings, and amount worth over $40 000 in 2020s Australian Dollars.
On 29 January 1878, the school was officially opened by head teacher James W. McDonald. There were 17 students that year.
In 1916, the school building burned down and was rebuilt in a different part of the same property.
In 1978, the Grandchester State School celebrated its centenary with parades, historical reenactments, food, and the setting down of a time capsule. The time capsule was stored in a PVC pipe set into the podium of a sundial installed into the school grounds.
In 2003, Grandchester State School celebrated its 125th anniversary where the sundial time capsule, sealed in 1978, was opened. Don Livingstone, member of the Ipswich City Council for Ipswich West at the time, was present at the anniversary celebrations and for the opening of the time capsule. From his speech on 12 March 2003, he states that the time capsule contained an assortment of school supplies and paraphernalia, "[including] chalk, rubbers, pencils, coins, newspapers, and a cassette tape." A new time capsule was sealed at the 125th anniversary celebration event, which was sealed and buried in the school grounds. It contains schoolwork and a computer disk and is set to be unburied and opened in 2028.References (online)Indigenous Place Names - Extracts from 'Aboriginal Place Names' by A Reed - Ipswich City Council - Planning Branch - [accessed 31 July 2023] <indigenous-place-names-pdf-132-kb-ipswich-city-council>Grandchester State School - Don Livingstone - Queensland Parliament - 12 March 2003 - [Accessed 31 July 2023] <Don Livingstone spk Ipswich West 20030312-1.PDF>Queensland Places - Bigge's Camp - Grandchester - State Library of Queensland - [accessed 31 July 2023] <queensland-places-bigges-camp-grandchester>Queensland school openings, closures and name changes - Queensland Government - - Education - [accessed 31 July 2023] <historical-summary-prior-1999.xlsx>Former state Labor MP and Ipswich councillor Don Livingstone dies - Sarah Motherwell - The Courier Mail - 15 October 2015 - [accessed 7 August 2023] <446a62eb02dc7f3d1bd35fe97fb4d7d5>
Connections
People & FamiliesDon Livingstone (1948-2015)SchoolsGrandchester State SchoolCurated CollectionsWho Do You Think I Am?Taxonomy20th Century | 1970s | 1978
Subjects
Queensland Times Collection
Queensland Times CollectionThe Queensland Times CollectionJanuary 1978 - Queensland Times
Asset Details
Reference IDQT-1978-01-28-0011QT-1978-01-28-0012QT-1978-01-28-0022Asset TypeImage - JpegImages, Maps and Artefacts (Trove mapping field)imageColour or Black & White ImageBlack & WhitePhysical DescriptionNegativeCopyright NoticeTo use this image, please contact the Picture Ipswich Digital Archivist.CopyrightPicture Ipswich Copyright Information
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SuburbSchoolsCurated CollectionsQueensland Times Collection
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Attendees at the Grandchester State School centenary celebration, Grandchester, Ipswich, January 1978. Picture Ipswich, accessed 30/04/2025, https://www.pictureipswich.com.au/nodes/view/26879