Dalby State High School (SHS) opened on its present site in 1954, due to overcrowding at Dalby State School (est.1861) - which had accommodated a secondary department (or 'high top') since 1914.
In 2016 Dalby SHS retains six 1950s buildings, and part of a seventh, which demonstrate the evolution of standard government designs:
the eastern half of Block A (Boulton & Paul prefabricated timber vocational buildings, 1953-5)
the eastern section of Block B (Boulton & Paul prefabricated timber school building, 1953-4)
Block D (highset timber school building with semi-enclosed stair, 1954-5)
Block C (timber school building with timber floor trusses, 1956-8)
Block F (administration building, 1958-9)
Block J (brick veneer vocational building, 1958-9).

It also retains its 1950s site planning; covered links; and paved areas associated with Block F; along with a sports oval and mature perimeter trees.
The school has been in continuous operation since establishment.

The traditional land of the Barunggam people, Dalby was established with European settlement of the Darling Downs from 1840.
Laid out in 1852, Dalby was resurveyed and named in 1853, and its Town Reserve was declared in August 1855.
The first urban land sales were held in 1857, and Dalby became a municipality (the Borough of Dalby) on 29 August 1863.

The growing town soon required a school.
National schools, established in 1848 in New South Wales, were continued in Queensland following the colony's creation in 1859.
Following the introduction of the Education Act 1860, Queensland's national and public schools grew from four in 1860 to 230 by 1875.
The State Education Act 1875 provided for free, compulsory and secular primary education and established the Department of Public Instruction.
Schools became a community focus, a symbol of progress, and a source of pride, with enduring connections formed with past pupils, parents, and teachers.

To help ensure consistency and economy, the Queensland Government developed standard plans for its school buildings.
From the 1860s until the 1960s, Queensland school buildings were predominantly timber-framed, an easy and cost-effective approach that also enabled the government to provide facilities in remote areas.
Standard designs were continually refined in response to changing needs and educational philosophy and Queensland school buildings were particularly innovative in climate control, lighting, and ventilation.
Standardisation produced distinctly similar schools across Queensland with complexes of typical components.

A school was built in Dalby by public subscription by early 1859, and the Dalby National School (later Dalby State School) opened on 1 June 1861 on Cunningham Street.
The 1859 school appears to have been sited elsewhere, east of Myall Creek.
In September 1861 the locals voted to transfer the building and land to the Board of Education, to become a vested national school.
In non-vested national schools, the Board of Education did not own the building, but usually provided the teacher.
From 1875 national schools were referred to as state schools.

Transport improvements had a major effect on the prosperity and growth of Dalby.
The extension of the Western railway line from Toowoomba to Dalby in 1868 led to a boom in the town, which had a population of 3500 by the mid-1870s.
However, Dalby's population plummeted to 1500 when the line was extended west towards Roma in 1877, and people followed the railhead.
Farming was initially inhibited due to a lack of rain, and without refrigeration agricultural produce could not be delivered to distant markets.
By 1885 the population was 1296, and this had only recovered to 1416 by 1901.
Dalby's population recovered in the early 20th century due to the Queensland Government's enforced break-up of the large pastoral stations, and its construction of branch railway lines, which encouraged closer settlement.
Dairying and wheat cultivation expanded, and the development of agriculture led to secondary industries in Dalby.
However, the rural economy of the area remained predominantly pastor
Dalby State High School (SHS) opened on its present site in 1954, due to overcrowding at Dalby State School (est.1861) - which had accommodated a secondary department (or 'high top') since 1914. In 2016 Dalby SHS retains six 1950s buildings, and part of a seventh, which demonstrate the evolution of standard government designs:
the eastern half of Block A (Boulton & Paul prefabricated timber vocational buildings, 1953-5)
the eastern section of Block B (Boulton & Paul prefabricated timber school building, 1953-4)
Block D (highset timber school building with semi-enclosed stair, 1954-5)
Block C (timber school building with timber floor trusses, 1956-8)
Block F (administration building, 1958-9)
Block J (brick veneer vocational building, 1958-9).
It also retains its 1950s site planning; covered links; and paved areas associated with Block F; along with a sports oval and mature perimeter trees. The school has been in continuous operation since establishment.
The traditional land of the Barunggam people, Dalby was established with European settlement of the Darling Downs from 1840. Laid out in 1852, Dalby was resurveyed and named in 1853, and its Town Reserve was declared in August 1855. The first urban land sales were held in 1857, and Dalby became a municipality (the Borough of Dalby) on 29 August 1863.
The growing town soon required a school. National schools, established in 1848 in New South Wales, were continued in Queensland following the colony's creation in 1859. Following the introduction of the Education Act 1860, Queensland's national and public schools grew from four in 1860 to 230 by 1875. The State Education Act 1875 provided for free, compulsory and secular primary education and established the Department of Public Instruction. Schools became a community focus, a symbol of progress, and a source of pride, with enduring connections formed with past pupils, parents, and teachers.
To help ensure consistency and economy, the Queensland Government developed standard plans for its school buildings. From the 1860s until the 1960s, Queensland school buildings were predominantly timber-framed, an easy and cost-effective approach that also enabled the government to provide facilities in remote areas. Standard designs were continually refined in response to changing needs and educational philosophy and Queensland school buildings were particularly innovative in climate control, lighting, and ventilation. Standardisation produced distinctly similar schools across Queensland with complexes of typical components.
A school was built in Dalby by public subscription by early 1859, and the Dalby National School (later Dalby State School) opened on 1 June 1861 on Cunningham Street. The 1859 school appears to have been sited elsewhere, east of Myall Creek. In September 1861 the locals voted to transfer the building and land to the Board of Education, to become a vested national school. In non-vested national schools, the Board of Education did not own the building, but usually provided the teacher. From 1875 national schools were referred to as state schools.
Transport improvements had a major effect on the prosperity and growth of Dalby. The extension of the Western railway line from Toowoomba to Dalby in 1868 led to a boom in the town, which had a population of 3500 by the mid-1870s. However, Dalby's population plummeted to 1500 when the line was extended west towards Roma in 1877, and people followed the railhead. Farming was initially inhibited due to a lack of rain, and without refrigeration agricultural produce could not be delivered to distant markets. By 1885 the population was 1296, and this had only recovered to 1416 by 1901. Dalby's population recovered in the early 20th century due to the Queensland Government's enforced break-up of the large pastoral stations, and its construction of branch railway lines, which encouraged closer settlement. Dairying and wheat cultivation expanded, and the development of agriculture led to secondary industries in Dalby. However, the rural economy of the area remained predominantly pastor
Dalby State High School