| Historical notes: | The first land grants in the Burwood district included those to Thomas Rowley in c.1799 and William Faithful in c.1808. In c.1812, Rowley’s ‘Burwood Farm’ was bought by Alexander Riley, who built the first house in the district, ‘Burwood Villa’ in c.1814.
Early activity in the area included farming activities, collection of timber and the development of service industries along Parramatta and Liverpool Roads. A railway was constructed in c.1855 to link Sydney and Parramatta, with Burwood being one of the six stops. It became a passenger service for the wealthy city businessmen who lived in villa estates. A village subdivision was laid out around the railway line in c.1854 and the area remained relatively open. Through to c.1880’s, a number of gentleman’s estates were established in and around Burwood.
The School site is part of the 750 acres granted to Thomas Rowley and later part of Cargill’s subdivision. In April 1878 Sarah E Lester of Burwood purchased Lots 1 to 6 Section 1 of Cargill’s Subdivision. This comprised the southern section of the main block with frontage to Rowley Street, Grantham Street and Park Road. In April 1887 Lester purchased Lots 7 to 10 of Section 1 located to the immediate north of her initial purchase and in the same year consolidated what was to be the initial School grounds when she purchased Lots 4 and 5, with 233 feet street frontage and area of just over 1 acre, of Fraser’s subdivision located opposite, on the eastern side of Park Road.
A large Victorian house, Kent House, occupied the site bounded by Park Road, Rowley Place (now Street) and Willama (later Burwood then Grantham) Street that by the 1880s was used by Miss Lester as a private ladies’ college. In three separate transfers representatives of the Wesleyan Church officially purchased Lots 1 to 10 of Section 1 of Cargill’s subdivision and land comprising of just over an acre located on the eastern side of Park Road also owned by Miss Lester.
At first the School catered for both boarders and day students who were housed in the former Kent House. The house also had an attached cottage which was soon demolished and replaced with what was to be the first of many additions to the school. The school was one of the first to incorporate a kindergarten department. The increasing number of students continued to necessitate on-going expansion with the purchase of additional land which occurred as early as the 1920s. By this stage the Schofield Wing (now the Chapel, 1891-92) and Tower Wing (1919) has been constructed.
By the late 1890s the name of the School had changed to “Burwood Ladies’ College” and organisational changes followed with the appointment of new headmistress and president and introduction of dual administration which
Schofield Hall, was designed by architect Harry C. Kent who also made provision for two towers. The foundation stone was laid by Mrs Schofield in c.1891 and new building was opened in November c.1892. The building featured a spacious hall with timbered ceiling and wooden beams and a specially designed cabinet to house the foundation laying trowels.
The Tower Wing, was opened in March 1919. Designed by Alfred G Newman, Architect, the cost of the build was actually 8933 pounds and with furniture this added another 1594 pounds. The tower after which the new block was named was in part financed by the endowment given by Mrs Schofield. The new structure was constructed to the north of the Schofield Hall and extended across the site. The Tower itself, added a touch of flamboyance to the School’s appearance and remains a notable feature along Park
In c.1922 a new principal, Mr Potts, was appointed and largely as a result of his efforts during his term (1922-1933) new properties were acquired, existing ones extended and new tennis courts were laid.
In c.1923 Abbeythorpe, a residence that stood between the School’s property and Burwood Park was purchased and initially used for the kindergarten and primary classes with accommodation for boarders on the upper floor. The property not only had a large two storey Victorian Italianate house, but also contained a small tennis court.
The building firm Kell and Rigby were engaged to build a new hall in c.1926. The new block was to have a tower to balance the Tower Wing and was erected at the corner of Grantham and Rowley Streets.
It appears the brick fence fronting Rowley Street retains its original form with iron infill panels and hedge behind.
By c.1930s the School was in a stable condition and well placed to withstand the effects of the Depression. Building expansion and new property purchases continued. In c.1935 an enclosed elevated corridor, known as Tower Bridge, was constructed to join the Central and Tower Wings of the College. This provided easier access between the upper storeys of these two buildings. Mr Potts retired in 1933 and barely a year later was struck by a car and killed. The c.1926 hall, known as Potts Assembly Hall and Gymnasium was named in his memory.
In c.1936 a two storey house adjoining the School in Grantham Street was purchased and Renamed Sutton House. During late 1937 and early 1938 additions were completed to make a continuous frontage along Rowley Street joining the Assembly Hall and Prescott Wing and providing additional classroom and dormitory accommodation. In 1939 two more properties were also purchased in Park Road. In the late 1930s plans for the construction of a swimming pool were made and funds raised, however, had to be postponed due to the onset of World War II.
In c.1946 the Governor of NSW, Lieutenant-General Sir John Northcott concluded Speech Day with the laying of the foundation stone of a new building which was to be constructed on the Grantham Street frontage. The new building would contain new science laboratories and a library. However, the construction of the building was to be delayed for another three years. In March 1947 fire destroyed the Prescott Wing (additions to the original Kent House), which extended along the eastern end of Rowley Street to Park Road.
The construction of Sutton House, on the corner of Grantham and Rowley Streets, was to provide new science laboratories, a geography room and much needed new library. It was eventually completed in c.1949 after a series of delays. The new “Wearne Library” was noted for its simple and light finishes and spaces and was for use of the entire school with seating for a 100 girls.
In August 1949 a two storey house, Youngarra, located on the corner of Rowley and Gordon Streets was purchased. Expansion was approved for renovations to the building which contained fourteen rooms on a quarter of a hectare of much needed land. The works were completed within six months and the building was renamed Kent House, in memory of the original school building.
Capital works continued into the 1960s. Plans for a new building along “traditional” lines had been prepared, however, a more contemporary addition was approved by the School Council. Work promptly began a little over a year later and a tennis court between the Assembly Hall and Sutton Hall was replaced by Wade House, a modern two storey brick building with feature facade panels highlighting the contemporary architectural fashion.
The new primary block on the site of Kent House on Gordon Street with its nine classrooms, assembly hall and library was officially opened in 1967. The 1970s brought a number of changes and new principal initiated the so called “Design for the Seventies” campaign
Fires in the 1940s and 1970s also necessitated the replacement and evolution of some of the existing buildings and site.
The School purchased more land to the north of the early main school site and buildings have been demolished to make way for Building 10 and its subsequent additions / new wings (Buildings 11 and 12). The School site has continued to expand to the present with the north eastern section purchased and developed since the centenary of the School in 1986. |