When Bowen State School first opened in 1865, a water well was dug in the school grounds to serve the daily needs of its growing population. Positioned along the fence line that divided the boys’ and girls’ playgrounds, the well became not just a practical necessity — but perhaps a social opportunity in an era of strict gender segregation.
One can imagine the carefully timed trips to the well, allowing students a brief — and legitimate — reason to cross paths with those on the other side of the fence.
Though its exact location has been lost to time, historical site plans suggest the well once stood near the present-day E Block eating area. Today, its memory remains as a charming reminder of how daily routines shaped life and friendships in the earliest days of the school.