Harrisford

Last updated

Harrisford
Harrisford, 182 George Street Parramatta, New South Wales (2).jpg
Harrisford in 2019
Location182 George Street, Parramatta, City of Parramatta, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Coordinates 33°48′53″S151°00′38″E / 33.8148°S 151.0105°E / -33.8148; 151.0105
Built18231829
OwnerThe Kings School Old Boys Union
Official nameHarrisford
Typestate heritage (built)
Designated2 April 1999
Reference no.248
TypeHouse
CategoryResidential buildings (private)
Location map Australia Sydney.png
Red pog.svg
Location of Harrisford in Sydney
Australia relief map.jpg
Red pog.svg
Harrisford (Australia)

Harrisford is a heritage-listed former residence, school building, factory and workshop at 182 George Street, Parramatta, City of Parramatta, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It was built between 1823 and 1829. The property is owned by The Kings School Old Boys Union. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999. [1]

Contents

History

The house Harrisford was built between 1823 and 1829 for the Rev. William Walker when he married Rowland Hassall's daughter. [1]

In 1832, Walker leased it to The King's School as their inaugural premises, following the school's instigation by Archdeacon William Broughton. The school commenced on 13 February 1832, with the Rev. Robert Forrest as headmaster. Opening with about a dozen boys, the school by the end of that year had a respectable enrolment of 41 boarders and 12 day boys. Two nearby cottages housed the boarders. [2] [1] It was one of four early schools in the colony, along with the Sydney College, the Normal Institution and the Australian College. All four schools offered a higher, and classical, education for the sons of the well-to-do families of the colony. The King's School occupied the building until 1836. [3] [1]

In around 1840, William Woolls, a former staff member of both The King's School and Sydney College commenced his own school and leased the former premises of The King's School. Woolls' school had 31 residents at the 1841 census, including family, staff and boarding pupils. He also earned a commendation from the Governor of New South Wales, with Sir George Gipps noting in his annual report of 30 September 1842 that "...of the private schools many serve to be mentioned with commendation, particularly that of the Rev'd Mr Forrest at Campbelltown, that of Mr Cape in Sydney, and of Mr Woolls in Parramatta." [4] [1]

A brief description of the activities of a school boy at Woolls' school is the reminiscences of one pupil, Walter Campbell, a boarder at Harrisford for two years in the mid-1850s and later NSW Director of Agriculture. Campbell wrote his reminiscences in 1932, painting an idyllic picture of his days at Harrisford. He says of Woolls:

'He was remarkably kind and sympathetic in imparting instruction, ..... The boys, who were nearly all boarders, had their quarters in Harrisford, with a detached one-roomed building between it and the river serving as the school room. This was much the same arrangement that had existed twenty years earlier when Harrisford was used by The Kings School. The Parramatta River, not unexpectedly, provided the pleasures of fishing and swimming, but in 1841 a master had drowned who had gone to the rescue of a boy in difficulties. For the 25 or so pupils, there were rambles and picnics in General Macarthur's Bush, and walks to Baulkham Hills and Beyond.

Campbell also provides a glimpse of Woolls' domestic life, his daughters and Mrs Woolls playing the piano, and Woolls himself playing "a large old-fashioned amber coloured flute with six finger holes and one key". The household exhibited some degree of prosperity for there were two housemaids, a cook and a handyman. At one time the cook had been an Aboriginal woman. There was an assistant master to instruct in arithmetic, writing and spelling, leaving Woolls to attend to Latin and other subjects. Some of the pupils from The King's School enrolled at Woolls' school, including George Fairfowl Macarthur. In the early 1840s Woolls also had as pupils Henry and Robert Radford, step-sons of wealthy Sydney wool-merchant Alexander Brodie Spark. Spark lived in affluence in his mansion, "Tempe" on the banks of the Cooks River, about 16 km from Sydney. [5] [1]

Woolls vacated Harrisford in 1864 and moved to the larger premises of Newlands, a property which had once belonged to the Rev. Samuel Marsden on the northern bank of the Parramatta River, although Gilbert says "in or about 1865". Never large, catering for about 30 boys at a time it seems to have been a happy, enlightened and enlightening institution which the boys remembered with gratitude and affection. [6] Gilbert adds that Woolls remained at Newlands for the last seven years or so of his teaching career. [7] The school was for local boys as wells as boarders. During Woolls' stay at Newlands, he continued his extensive botanical studies including botany in the school curriculum, taking the boys regularly on field trips around the hills of Parramatta collecting samples of unknown specimens. Woolls was an important early schoolmaster and botanist. He lectured frequently on the botanical landscape and was recognised by the greatest of the British and European botanists and on whose recommendation Woolls was admitted in 1865, as a Fellow of the Linnean Society in London, one of the most respected scientific organisations in Britain. In August 1872 Woolls retired from teaching and was admitted to the Holy Order in 1873, becoming the Rev. William Woolls. [8] [1]

The building in 1870 was painted and had a Georgian fanlight and six panelled door and glazed half sidelights with lattice style decoration. Pickets on fence had round tops with unusual turned spindle gate. [1]

Later residents included John Harris, nephew of Surgeon Dr John Harris of Harris Park. The building was later used a peanut butter factory, stationery shop and car workshop. [1]

Harrisford was restored by King's School Old Boys Union in 1980 to its 1830s configuration, using Clive Lucas, Stapleton & Partners heritage architects. [1]

In 2003, a high rise apartment building was built only meters from Harrisford's western boundary. [1]

Description

Harrisford is a two-storey Old Colonial Georgian house. It features Flemish bond brick walls, sandstone quoins, foundations, and stringline at first floor level and a hipped corrugated iron roof which was originally shingles. The joinery and fittings, while in 1830s style, are reproductions.

It is surrounded by a timber picket fence with a well-kept garden, and an early kitchen or schoolroom building at the rear of the residence. [1]

Heritage listing

Harrisford, which is located between George Street and the river, is one of the oldest houses remaining in the township of Parramatta. It is an important element at the head of the river, representing the early years of settlement. The site possesses potential to contribute to an understanding early of urban development in Parramatta. Harrisford is historically and socially significant and is representative. [1]

Harrisford was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999. [1]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parramatta</span> City in New South Wales, Australia

Parramatta is a central suburb of the City of Parramatta and a major commercial centre in Greater Western Sydney. Parramatta is located approximately 24 kilometres (15 mi) west of the Sydney CBD, on the banks of the Parramatta River. It is commonly regarded as the secondary central business district of metropolitan Sydney.

St Joseph's College is an independent Catholic secondary day and boarding school for boys, conducted in the Marist Brothers tradition, located in Hunters Hill, a suburb on the Lower North Shore of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abbotsleigh</span> School in Australia

Abbotsleigh is an independent Anglican early learning, primary, secondary day, and boarding school for girls located in Wahroonga, on the Upper North Shore of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The school currently educates approximately 1,400 students from Transition (pre-school) to Year 12, including 170 boarders from Year 7 to 12.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Macarthur (wool pioneer)</span> British Army officer, entrepreneur, landowner and politician

John Macarthur was a British Army officer, entrepreneur, landowner and politician who was a highly influential figure in the establishment of the colony of New South Wales. He was also a pioneer of the Australian Merino wool industry, and was instrumental in agitating for, and organising, a rebellion against Governor William Bligh in January 1808.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rydalmere, New South Wales</span> Suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Rydalmere is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Rydalmere is approximately 21 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of the City of Parramatta. Rydalmere is part of the Greater Western Sydney region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The King's School, Parramatta</span> Independent day and boarding school in North Parramatta, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

The King's School is an independent Anglican, early learning, primary and secondary day and boarding school for boys, located in North Parramatta in the western suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Founded in 1831, the school is Australia's oldest independent school, and is situated on a 148-hectare (1.48 km2) suburban campus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harris Park, New South Wales</span> Suburb of Greater Western Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Harris Park is a suburb of Greater Western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Harris Park is located 19 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of the City of Parramatta and is part of the Greater Western Sydney region. Harris Park has a sizeable Indian and Hindu diaspora, which together make up the largest ethnic and religious grouping in the suburb.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Woolls</span> Australian botanist (1814-1893)

William Woolls was an Australian botanist, clergyman and schoolmaster.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elizabeth Farm</span> Formerly rural estate in New South Wales, Australia

Elizabeth Farm is a historic estate located at 70 Alice Street, Rosehill, a suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Elizabeth Farm was the family home of wool pioneers John and Elizabeth Macarthur. The estate was commenced in 1793 on a slight hill overlooking the upper reaches of Parramatta River, 23 kilometres (14 mi) west of Sydney Cove. The Burramattagal clan of the Dharug people are the traditional custodians of the area; their presence is recalled in the name Parramatta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tara Anglican School for Girls</span> School in Australia

Tara Anglican School for Girls is an independent Anglican single-sex, early learning, primary, secondary, day, and boarding school for girls, located in North Parramatta, a western suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Macarthur Girls High School</span> Public comprehensive secondary school in Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia

Macarthur Girls High School is situated on the Parramatta River next to Parramatta City, New South Wales, Australia. The school was named after John Macarthur, a pioneer of the Australian wool industry. The school was built in 1934 with later additions in 1955, 1975, 1996 and 2010. The school offers students a curriculum directed towards the Higher School Certificate with a combination of traditional and Vocational Education courses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tahlee</span> Historic site in New South Wales, Australia

Tahlee is a heritage-listed former pastoral property of 68.8 hectares in the suburb of Tahlee situated on the north side of Port Stephens near Karuah in New South Wales, Australia. It is the original site of the Australian Agricultural Company and more recently the location of the former Tahlee Bible College. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.

Martin Mason was a surgeon, magistrate and commander who is notable as a pioneer settler of Australia, and also as a supporter of Captain Bligh following the 1808 Rebellion at Sydney, New South Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St John's Cathedral, Parramatta</span> Church in New South Wales, Australia

St John's Cathedral is a heritage-listed, Anglican cathedral in Parramatta, City of Parramatta, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. St John's was given the status of provisional cathedral of the Anglican Diocese of Sydney in 1969, and designated a Regional Cathedral in 2011 for the Western Region. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 5 March 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blacktown Native Institution Site</span> Historic site in New South Wales, Australia

The Blacktown Native Institution Site is the heritage-listed site of a former residential institution for Aboriginal and Māori children in the City of Blacktown, part of the Greater Sydney metropolitan area in Australia. The site is located at Richmond Road, Oakhurst, New South Wales. It was built from 1822. The site has also been known as Parramatta Native Institute, Blacktown Institute, The Blacktown Site, Lloydhurst, BNI, Epping Estate, Epping Forest Estate and Native Institution Centre. The property was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 18 November 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Broughton House, Parramatta</span> Historic site in New South Wales, Australia

Broughton House is a heritage-listed former residence, school and now nursing home at 43a Thomas Street, Parramatta, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It was built from 1838 and was possibly designed by John Verge. It has also been known as Newlands, Bowden House, Parramatta Convalescent Home and Parramatta Nursing Home. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 1 October 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Macarthur House</span> Historic site in Sydney New South Wales, Australia

Macarthur House is a heritage-listed former residence and school building and now offices at 8 Melville Street, Parramatta, City of Parramatta, Sydney New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by James Houison, Arthur William McKenzie Mowle and David Sheedy and built from 1855 to 1856 by James Houison. It has also known as Morton House and Pemberton Grange. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Old King's School, Parramatta</span> Historic site in New South Wales, Australia

The Old King's School is a heritage-listed former campus of The King’s School, rehabilitation centre and office complex at O'Connell Street, Parramatta, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by various architects, including Ambrose Hallen, Blacket Brothers, Moorhouse & Isaacs and Power Adam & Munnings, and built by various contractors including C. A. Millyard and W. Noller. It is also known as The Old King's School and part of the site as Laurel House. It is now the Bayanami Public School. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Luke's Anglican Church, Liverpool</span> Heritage-listed church in Sydney, Australia

St Luke's Anglican Church is a heritage-listed Anglican church at Elizabeth Drive, Liverpool, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by Francis Greenway and built from 1818 to 1820. The property is owned by the Anglican Parish of Liverpool and is the oldest still existing Anglican church in Australia. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St John's Anglican Church Precinct</span> Church in New South Wales, Australia

St John's Anglican Church Precinct, also known as St John's Camden, is a heritage-listed Anglican church and associated precinct at 6-22 Menangle Road, Camden, Camden Council, New South Wales, Australia. The precinct comprises the church, rectory, cemetery, two church halls and grounds that provide a rural landscaped environment to the group. The dominant feature of the precinct is the historic St John's the Evangelist Anglican Church. Its architects are unknown, and could be the cumulative work of Mortimer Lewis, John Cunningham and Edmund Blacket. It was built from 1840 to 1849 with Richard Basden responsible for the nave and John Le Fevre adding the spire. 1874 saw the addition of the chancel and vestry, their builder is unknown and the design is likely the work of Sir George Gilbert Scott and Blacket. A feature of the church is an organ manufactured by J. Bates & Son, London. The Anglican Church Property Trust of the Diocese of Sydney holds the property in trust, under the Anglican Church of Australia Trust Property Act 1917 (NSW). The precinct was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 24 August 2018.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 "Harrisford". New South Wales State Heritage Register . Department of Planning & Environment. H00248. Retrieved 1 June 2018. CC BY icon.svg Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC BY 4.0 licence .
  2. Thomson, 1986, 25
  3. Thomson, 1986, 24-25
  4. Thomson, 1986, 45-46
  5. Thomson, 1986, 62-63
  6. Thomson, 1986, 32
  7. Thomson, 1986, 36
  8. Thomson, 1986

Bibliography

Attribution

CC BY icon-80x15.png This Wikipedia article was originally based on Harrisford , entry number 00248 in the New South Wales State Heritage Register published by the State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) 2018 under CC-BY 4.0 licence , accessed on 1 June 2018.