Nudgee State School opened on April 6, 1874. Originally named the Nudgee Provisional School, it was initially located on Nudgee Road before it was relocated to its final site on Earnshaw Road in 1928.
The Nudgee Provisional School began as a slab hut with shingle roof and boarded floors. Fourteen months later, Nudgee State School was established in 1875, with upgraded facilities consisting of a school room with an 8-foot veranda and a separate 2 room weatherboard dwelling for the head teacher.
Over the course of more than 120 years, Nudgee State School had as few as 38 enrolled students and a highest recorded enrolment of 714 students.
School commenced at Banyo State High School opened in January, 1954 with an enrolment of 320 students. The foundation Principal was Mr Milton Sallaway and he was provided with a staff of ten experienced teachers.
The school consisted of two buildings – the main classroom block and a Manual Arts Block consisting of a woodwork and Metal Work room. The spacious grounds of 40 acres were originally a farm, the farm house remained on campus for more that a year after the farm transitioned to a school site.
The amalgamated school was named to Earnshaw State College and commenced in 2003.
William Earnshaw – the namesake of Earnshaw State College – was born in England in 1866. He arrived in Brisbane in 1890 and joined the Education Department to continue his teaching career. William was initially posted to the first primary school in Buderim and after transfers to Redland Bay, Southport, Bundaberg, Maryborough, he returned to Brisbane. He became an Inspector of Schools in the early 1900s and ultimately Chief Inspector of Schools in Queensland.
William purchased land in Nudgee during his employment with the Education Department and lent his name to Earnshaw Road which links Banyo State High and Nudgee State Schools.
Nudgee State School.
Banyo State High School.