Male Orphan School land facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Male Orphan School land |
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Heritage boundaries
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| Location | Lot 1 Cartwright Street, Bonnyrigg, City of Fairfield, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1803– |
| Owner | Department of Planning and Infrastructure |
| Official name: Land Next to Male Orphan School; The Homestead; Male Schoolmaster's Residence; Bonnyrigg House; Male Orphan School land | |
| Type | state heritage (landscape) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 1390 |
| Type | Agriculture |
| Category | Farming and Grazing |
| Builders | James Busby |
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The Male Orphan School land is a special historical site in Bonnyrigg, New South Wales, Australia. It used to be a vineyard and orchard, but now it's mostly empty land. This site is important because it was once part of the first orphanage for boys in the colony.
It was built around 1803, and a man named James Busby did important work there. The land is also known by other names like Land Next to Male Orphan School and Bonnyrigg House. Today, the Government of New South Wales owns this land. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999, which means it's a protected historical place.
Contents
A Look Back: History of the Orphan School Land
The story of this land begins in 1803. Governor King set aside a huge area of land, about 4,980 hectares, to help support orphan girls. This was known as the Orphan School Estate.
In 1806, a timber farmhouse was built on the land. Later, in 1819, Governor Macquarie opened the Male Orphan School Farm there. A brick dormitory was also built around this time, though it was later taken down. Some of the original bricks, made right on the site, are now kept at the Fairfield Council Chambers.
Moving the Male Orphan School
After 1822, the Male Orphan School moved to a different part of the estate in Cabramatta. The main house, known as Bonnyrigg House, is thought to have been designed by famous architects like Francis Greenway or Alexander Kinghorne. Construction on this house started around 1826.
Interestingly, the upper floor of this house was sometimes used as a courthouse for local meetings. This might explain why it has many "blind windows" (windows that look like they are there but are actually bricked up).
Important People and Farming
Many people played a role in the school's history. William Walker was the first master. Then came Reverend Robert Cartwright, who led the school for four years. Lieutenant Richard Sadlier followed him.
In 1825, James Busby became the farm manager. He was very important because he started growing grapes for wine on the school grounds. This was a new and exciting idea for the colony.
The Orphanage Estate and Its Changes
In 1804, Governor King gave 12,300 acres in Cabramatta to the Female Orphan School. This was because their city location was too small. The land was rented out to earn money for the school.
Reverend Samuel Marsden helped convince Governor King to build a permanent Female Orphan House in Parramatta (now Rydalmere). This was built between 1813 and 1818. Once it opened, the old city residence became the Male Orphan House.
However, a government official named Commissioner Bigge wasn't happy with the city site for the boys. He suggested building a new male orphanage closer to Liverpool. The land for the orphanage had some legal issues, but Governor Brisbane fixed them in 1823.
Bigge thought the new Male Orphan School should also be a farm school. This way, the boys could learn farming skills and help grow their own food, saving money.
A New Farm and Wine Industry Beginnings
By early 1824, the Male Orphan School had moved to the "New Farm" near Liverpool. James Busby, the farm manager, taught the boys about growing grapes. In 1825, he planted a vineyard there. Busby had studied grape growing in France and arrived in Sydney in 1824.
In April 1826, the way orphans were managed changed. A new site was chosen for the orphanage, about 1.25 miles from Liverpool, at a place called Bull's Hill. Construction of the school buildings began there.
The Schoolmaster's residence, also known as Bonnyrigg House, was built at Bull's Hill around 1826. Alexander Kinghorne, a government engineer, chose the site.
Work on Bull's Farm started in June 1826. By July, plans were being made for the Master's Residence and dormitories. Buildings continued to be added to the orphanage until 1848, just two years before it closed in March 1850.
The orphanage was a large place with many buildings. It included the Master's House, dormitories, a dining room, school rooms, a hospital, stables, offices, a tailor's shop, a bakery, and more. Most of these were located near Bonnyrigg House on top of the hill.
Bonnyrigg House had great views across the area. It was designed by Colonial Architect Francis Greenway. William Walker was the first Master to live there.
The land around the orphanage was perfect for farming. Boys worked on the "New Farm" and in the vineyards and cotton fields. An 1863 map shows that these farms and vineyards surrounded the school.
James Busby, the farm manager, saw the great potential of the land. He was one of the first in the colony to try growing grapes to make wine. He even dug wells to find water for the plants. Wine made from the grapes grown here was first sent overseas in 1831. Busby's work helped start the Australian wine industry. He also wrote a book about growing grapes in 1825 and gave over 400 types of European grapes to the Botanic Gardens in Sydney in 1833.
After the Orphanage Closed
In 1850, the boys from the orphanage moved to Parramatta. The buildings were left empty and eventually fell apart. The land around the complex was leased to local families.
In the late 1870s, the Church decided to sell off parts of the estate. William Stimson bought a large section of land along Orphan School Creek. He became the biggest landowner and a very successful farmer in the Fairfield area. His family, the Stimsons, lived in Bonnyrigg House for many years.
William Stimson also played a big role in the local timber industry. He leased parts of his land to his five sons, who grew grapes and vegetables in the rich soil. One son, Joseph, grew grapes in the Bonnyrigg area.
After 1912, Stimson's land was divided again. Many parts were bought by poultry farmers, making it a major poultry farming area. Other parts of the Orphan School estate were also divided into smaller family farms.
Around 1914, a single-story addition was built onto the front of Bonnyrigg House. A timber verandah and a two-story extension were also added to the back.
Photos from the 1950s show a very tall bunya pine tree near the house, likely planted in the 1870s. There was also a picket fence and oleander plants, which are still there today. In the 1950s, the house was surrounded by empty fields and market gardens.
Bonnyrigg House is the only building left from the colony's first orphanage for boys, which operated from 1826 to 1840. The Heritage Council of NSW funded a study of the site in 1977 to find historical remains of the orphanage.
The study showed that the site was a large administrative and living area. It worked with its farm, known as New Farm. The orphanage was important for developing social welfare in Australia. It was one of the first places to combine welfare with training programs.
The institution was connected to important colonial figures like Reverend Samuel Marsden, Archdeacon Scott, Reverend Cartwright, Governor Lachlan Macquarie, and James Busby.
Bonnyrigg House was built in 1826 as the master's home. It is a rare example of Alexander Kinghorne's building design. He was a civil engineer involved in colonial building projects.
Studies of the site have found old building parts and other signs of life from the orphanage period.
Since then, many new houses have been built in Fairfield, especially in the 1980s. Bonnyrigg House is now privately owned and still used as a home.
What the Land Looks Like Today
The land next to the former orphanage site was once part of its original grounds. It has a very large eucalyptus tree and a big Bunya Bunya pine tree. There are also some old fruit trees and a grape vine from its farming past. You can still see a few old fence posts that once divided the property. A large oleander hedge grows along the boundary, separating the house from what used to be its garden.
What Remains Underground
Archaeologists have found signs of old buildings and activities from the orphanage period.
- Dormitory Block: The location of the old brick dormitory has been found. You can still see scattered bricks from the building.
- Bore: A well, likely dug by James Busby to find water for the orphanage, is located northeast of Bonnyrigg House.
- Raised Mound: A flat, raised area north of Bonnyrigg House might be where the school building once stood.
- Paths and Paving: Evidence of a brick path and an area of stone and brick paving, possibly from a dairy, have been found.
- Brick Clamps: Areas where bricks were made on site are visible in old aerial photos.
- Surface Artefacts: Many old items have been found scattered in the field south of Bonnyrigg House.
Condition of the Site
As of 2003, the northern part of the site has high archaeological potential. This is because the original school and hospital were located there. It's likely that parts of these buildings and old items are still buried underground. Unfortunately, the site has faced issues like theft of old bricks and rubbish dumping.
The site is important because:
- It was the main area for Australia's first male orphan school.
- It was unique in how it was run and what it aimed to do for its time.
- It is connected to important early figures like Samuel Marsden, Archdeacon Scott, Reverend Cartwright, Governor Lachlan Macquarie, and James Busby.
- It has strong links to early Australian history in technology, society, politics, and the church.
Recent studies have tried to find detailed plans of the site from when the Male Orphan School was open. An 1863 map, made about 15 years after the school closed, shows the layout of the buildings and property. This map has been used to figure out exactly where the old buildings were in relation to today's property lines.
However, recent building and plant growth have made it hard to see these historical features on the surface. The area has been filled with soil, and thick plants now cover the ground.
Surveys show five main areas on the site that might contain historical items. These include the sites of:
- An unknown timber structure (Feature 1).
- The Orphan School Dormitory Block (Feature 2).
- The Male Orphan School Hospital (Feature 3).
- The Male Orphan School Storekeeper's Quarters (Feature 4).
- The Male Orphan School Dam (Feature 5).
The overall look of the house and its surrounding land has changed a lot due to new housing developments. The house itself has also been changed in ways that don't fit its original style.
What Can Be Done
The house and the wider historical area should be connected and explained. This would help people living nearby and visitors understand what the house and its surroundings were like before modern housing was built. Any remaining plants, structures, or features should be protected.
Why This Place is Important: Heritage Listing
As of May 1999, this site is very important for its social and historical value. It was the location of an early 19th-century Male Orphanage and School, one of the first of its kind. The land is also important for the pioneering work in growing grapes (viticulture) by James Busby and early fruit farming. This land, along with Bonnyrigg House, is all that is left of the large grounds where the orphanage boys worked.
The site is linked to James Busby and the start of the Australian wine industry. Busby taught grape growing to the boys and planted a vineyard here in 1825. He was a key figure in Australian wine, publishing the first book on wine growing in Australia in 1825. He also gave a large collection of European grape types to the Botanic Gardens in Sydney in 1833, which then supplied plants to many early grape growers. Wine from the Orphan School estate was even sent to England in 1831 and received good reviews.
The area has historical and archaeological importance as the main site of the first Male Orphan School in Australia from 1826 to 1840. During this time, it was a large administrative and living center that worked with its farm, known as New Farm.
The orphanage was important in the development of social welfare in Australia. It was one of the earliest attempts to combine welfare with training programs. This was due to the social and educational ideas of the people who ran the institution.
The site was closely connected to important colonial figures, including Samuel Marsden, Archdeacon Scott, Reverend Cartwright, Governor Macquarie, and James Busby.
The site has found structural remains and other evidence from the orphanage period. It has archaeological potential, meaning it could provide more information about how the orphanage worked, its layout, and its activities over time.
Archaeological Remains
The Male Orphan School site has the potential to show physical evidence about the care, training, and education of poor and disadvantaged boys during this period. The archaeological remains are the most complete record available of the types of buildings and facilities provided to the boys. This evidence can help tell the stories of the orphans who lived there. It can also reveal how the institution operated.
The archaeological findings can also help answer bigger questions about social welfare policies, institutional practices, health, and education. This physical evidence is also valuable for comparing it to the Rydalmere Female Orphan site. This comparison can help us understand differences in gender roles and expectations in the early colonial period.
The Land Next to Male Orphan School was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999 because it met several important criteria:
- It shows the pattern of cultural or natural history in New South Wales.
The site is historically important for the experimental farming work done by the Orphan School boys. The vineyards and cotton crops were among the earliest of their kind. The variety of crops and animals was unusual for the time.
- It shows important aesthetic qualities or creative achievement in New South Wales.
The site is aesthetically important as a remaining part of early farming efforts in the area. It helps us understand the former setting and purpose of the Orphan School. It also provides an important visual break in the surrounding urban development.
- It has a strong connection with a particular community or group in New South Wales for social, cultural, or spiritual reasons.
The Homestead and the land around it are very important socially. It was one of the few places of its kind established in the early 19th century. It shows early ideas about social welfare. It is also one of the earliest examples of the "self-help" idea, where boys were trained in trades by working on the orchards, vineyards, and cotton crops.
- It can provide information that helps us understand the cultural or natural history of New South Wales.
The site has technical and research importance due to its connection with early grape growing and cotton farming techniques. It allows us to study colonial farming practices and social welfare ideas of the time.
- It has rare or endangered aspects of the cultural or natural history of New South Wales.
It is a rare example of the grounds connected to a colonial homestead that was part of a social welfare institution.
- It shows the main characteristics of a type of cultural or natural place in New South Wales.
The site represents early attempts to create a social welfare system using the "self-help" idea. It shows how this approach was put into practice.
