Katanning Boys Grammar School
The house has been used for many important community functions, including a doctors residence, a boys grammar school and a private maternity hospital (Coleraine) – where some of Katanning’s most prominent citizens were born.
Katanning Boys Grammar School
“Dr House was a well respected and fondly remembered family doctor and a prominent member of the Katanning community” [Anderson, p. 115]
Dr House came to Katanning in 1893 as the first District Medical Officer. In 1906, Dr House built a large bungalow style house for his growing family, the builder being the well-known Alexander Thomson [a]. The house was also used as House’s practice.
After the House family left Katanning for Gnowangerup, their house was sold and used as the Katanning Grammar School for Boys which opened in mid 1929. Montague Balston was the chairman of the board and Harold V. Piesse was a member of that board. The principal of the school was Mr. M., Wilson, B.A. with his wife, Mrs. Wilson the boarding house mistress.
In 1934 it was sold again to a Sister Harris and converted into a private maternity hospital and, in the 1970s, it was used as a boarding facility for high school students.
The school faced many difficulties, being the first of its kind outside of Perth, and it closed about five years after opening in 1934.
Today, the building has reverted to a private residence although there is a commemorative plaque at on the front garden area.
The building is a single storey asymmetric Federation Bungalow which has been much altered and added to over the years. The verandahs, on the front and south sides, have timber floorboards and posts. Elaborate woodwork is seen throughout the house, including the fireplaces, architraves and skirting boards. The timber detailing in the study is very elaborate. Inside the house are lead glass door panels and side windows and accordion doors between the lounge and dining room, which are exemplary for their time.
from the inHerit website
NEWSPAPER REPORTS
Katanning Grammar School.
From The West Australian
19 December, 1930
The headmaster (Mr. M., Wilson, B.A.) and Mrs. Wilson entertained a large number of parents and friends at The Bungalow, Katanning, on Wednesday, December 10, the occasion being the second annual break-up of the Katanning Grammar School for boys. The function took place in the min class room, visitors being served with morning tea at the conclusion of the addresses.
Mr. Montague Balston, chairman of directors of Katanning Grammar School, Ltd. welcomed the visitors. He said that the school had been in existence for 18 months only and, in common with all young private schools, it was faced with difficulties which were not foreseen when the company was formed. He was sure, however, that these difficulties would be overcome, and the school, which was the only one of its kind outside the metropolitan area, would be firmly established. The health of the boys had been excellent during the year, and this was largely due to the care exercised by Mrs. Wilson over her charges.
Under Mr. Wilson, the pupils had made excellent progress in their scholastic work, notwithstanding the difficulties arising from disparity in ages. Due attention had been given to sport and the boys had enjoyed friendly matches with pupils of other schools in both cricket and tennis.
At the conclusion of the address, Mrs. Wilson was presented, with a cut crystal bowl as a token of appreciation from the directors for the work she had done during the year.
In submitting his report, the headmaster stated that the school, which had opened in July of last year with seven boys only, had commenced this year with 23. Although several of the older boys were leaving, new enrollments would more than compensate for these losses.
Mr. Wilson then gave a very interesting outline of his methods of education, based on many years of experience. He said that his ambition with boys was to turn them out capable of becoming good and useful citizens rather than to cram them for some particular examination to the exclusion of all else. Examination served a useful purpose when a particular object was in view, and also engendered a spirit of healthy competition among the boys, spurring them on to make their best effort. For smaller boys, however, who’s feet were only just entering the paths of knowledge, it was necessary to teach widely rather than intensively, to create a love for reading and to make the work of learning as much a pleasure as possible.
The function was brought to a conclusion with a vote of thanks to the chairman.