thumb | right | alt=Street view of Normal School, Brisbane, ca. 1885 | Street view of Normal School, Brisbane, ca. 1885The '''Brisbane Normal School''' (initially known as the '''Brisbane National School''') was the first school established by the Queensland Government. It was in Brisbane and operated from 1860 to 1927.<ref name=":0">{{Cite QSA Agency|8518|Brisbane National School|6 August 2025 }}</ref>
== History == In early 1860, the National Board of Education (a Queensland Government organisation) established the National School (Number 1) in Brisbane. It opened on 2 April 1860 under headmaster John Rendall.<ref>{{cite news |date=15 March 1860 |title=Classified Advertising |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3718354 |accessdate=6 August 2025 |newspaper=The Moreton Bay Courier |location=Queensland, Australia |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia |volume=XIV |issue=840}}</ref> On the opening day, the attendance was 50 boys and 8 girls. The school was located in Adelaide Street and was conducted as a school for boys and girls until 14 August 1860. In 1862, the National School became officially known as the Normal School when it was re-organised to include a training school for teachers. In December 1862, the boys' school and the Board of Education moved to the new building next door at the corner of Adelaide and Edward Streets, while the girls remained in the original building.The name of the school varied, originally being the Brisbane National School, afterwards called the Brisbane Central School and then the Brisbane Normal School. Later, the children were separated into three schools: Brisbane Central Girls' School, Brisbane Central Infants' School and Brisbane Central Boys' School. In 1920, the three schools were recombined to create the Central State School. In 1922, this became known as the Central Practising School. In September 1927, the headmaster, staff and pupils were relocated from the old Normal School buildings to the Leichhardt Street State School (later renamed Brisbane Central State School, which is still operating as at 2025).<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-08-31 |title=Brisbane Central State School |url=https://brisbanecentralss.eq.edu.au/ |access-date=2025-08-06 |website=Brisbane Central State School |language=en}}</ref>
The Normal School building erected in 1862 was demolished at the end of 1927.<ref name=":0" />
== Notable alumni ==
* William Kelso, Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kelso, William |url=https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/Members/Former-Members/Former-Members-Register/Former-Member-Details?id=1900386552 |access-date=2025-08-06 |website=Former Members |publisher=Queensland Parliament}}</ref>
== References == {{Commons category|Category:Brisbane Normal School}} {{Reflist}}
=== Attribution === {{Creative Commons text attribution notice|cc=by4|url=https://www.archivessearch.qld.gov.au/agencies/A8518|author=Queensland State Archives}}
{{coord missing|Queensland}}
Category:Primary schools in Brisbane Category:Public schools in Queensland Category:Adelaide Street, Brisbane Category:1860 establishments in Australia Category:1927 disestablishments in Australia