Dulcot Schoolhouse

BOOKINGS OPEN AT 12 PM ON FRIDAY, 11 OCTOBER 2024

Architect/s: Government Architect (1898)

Renovations: Preston Cowles, Design Hub (2010)

A dedicated public school opened in 1899 at Dulcot in response to a government initiative to provide rural children with education close to their farms. The Federation-style building comprised a single classroom and a three-room adjoined residence for the teacher. The design was developed as a standard model for small schools built throughout Tasmania at the turn of the 20^th century.  However, demographic changes and improved transportation soon favoured Richmond and Cambridge schools, leading to a decline in students post-Federation, rendering Dulcot State School obsolete by 1910.

Leased by the Hanslow family in 1910, the Old School House was later purchased by Albert and Mary Hanslow in 1925 and transformed into a family home. Over the years, the Hanslows modified the Federation schoolhouse, dividing the classroom in 1944 and expanding the house in 1957. The Hanslow’s great-grandson, Noel Frankham, purchased the house in 2005 and undertook extensive renovations in 2010, restoring the classroom and front verandah, adding bedrooms, a spacious kitchen, and a deck, enhancing the residence’s appeal and capturing stunning views of the Coal River Valley and Pittwater. The property has remained within the Hanslow family, with continuous updates reflecting its evolving role as a cherished family home.

Open: Sunday 10 November 2024, 10 am – 1 pm (registration required)