Early bush schooling preserved with Warra Haystack School House refurbishment

July 26, 2021

The history of early education in the bush will be preserved for future generations thanks to the refurbishment of the former Haystack School House in Warra.

Federal Member for Maranoa David Littleproud visited Warra today to officially open the Warra Haystack School House Refurbishment project.

“The Warra Haystack School House is an important part of Warra’s history, dating back to 1910 and operating as a school until 1968,” Mr Littleproud said.

“It is exciting to see this important building restored and preserved as a museum and I congratulate the Warra Progress and Heritage Society for their work on this important project.

“The restoration will give visitors the opportunity to take a step back in time and experience a schoolroom from the early 1900’s, when classes were in one room with a single teacher.

“The building also provides information on 12 other small one-teacher schools once located around the district.

“The project was funded under the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal’s Tackling Tough Times Together program which supports community groups in drought-affected regions to deliver projects focused on reducing social isolation, increasing social and educational participation, and addressing disadvantage.

“The refurbishment provided a boost for the local community, including employing qualified tradespeople to restore the 111-year-old structure, including replacing floorboards, downpipes and associated plumbing, replacing a timber window, and repainting of the exterior of the building.

“The project also increased the accessibility, capacity and sustainability of the building, and will no doubt become an important history stop for travellers along the Warrego.”

The Warra Progress and Heritage Association was supported by $19,999 under the through the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal’s Tackling Tough Times Together (TTTT) program for the Former Haystack School Building Repair and Repaint project.