| Historical notes: | The first land grants in the Burwood district included those to Thomas Rowley in 1799 and William Faithful in 1808. In 1812, Rowley’s ‘Burwood Farm’ was bought by Alexander Riley, who built the first house in the district, ‘Burwood Villa’ in 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 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 1854 and the area remained relatively open. Through to the 1880’s, a number of gentleman’s estates were established in and around Burwood.
By 1895 the villa estates had largely been subdivided. Burwood remained an attractive railway suburb of gentlemen’s residences and during the following two decades its character as a garden suburb developed as there was limited industrial development in the area, but there was a variety of service industries as well as some modest homes.
A small wooden church, on Parramatta road, was the site of the first Congregational Church. The new church in Burwood Road was burnt down by fire in 1879. Due to the work of prominent citizens in the Church, such as E. T. Penfold, a new Church was erected in 1880, designed by Thomas Rowe. The school hall situated to the east was built in 1874.
This church, located on busy Burwood Road, just north of the Railway line, originally possessed a two manual organ with mechanical action, built by J.W. Walker & Sons of London in 1880. It was removed and broken up in 1958 when it was replaced by a Wurlitzer organ (Style H) from the Savoy Theatre, Hurstville. This instrument was built in the 1930s and comprised two manuals and 10 ranks.
When the former Methodist church in Burwood closed in the early 1970s, it was eventually proposed that that organ (a large three manual Hunter) be installed in the, now, Uniting Church. Non-professional labour was engaged to physically move the Hunter organ "down the road". The end result was the almost total destruction of the instrument. What was salvageable went to the Wesley Uniting Church in Canberra. The Great Posaune from this Hunter organ went to St Paul's Anglican Church, Manuka (ACT) and has since been discarded.
On Sunday, 30 August 1992, a service of dedication was held to mark the installation or a large two manual and pedal organ built originally by Gray & Davison in 1887. This instrument came from Criccieth in Wales and was totally restored by Pitchford & Garside prior to its installation. The opening recital on 25th October, 1992 was given by Mark Quarmby with the choir of Newington College providing choral items.
Reference; From SOJ June/July 1992, October/November 1992, February/March 1993 |