Rydalmere Hospital facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rydalmere Hospital |
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Female Orphan School, now University of Western Sydney, 2012
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| Location | 171 Victoria Road, Rydalmere, City of Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1813–1940 |
| Architect | Original layout from Elizabeth Macquarie |
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| Owner | Western Sydney University |
| Official name: Rydalmere Hospital Precinct (former); Female Orphan School (former); Protestant Orphan School (former); Western Sydney University (WSU) - Parramatta Campus | |
| Type | State heritage (complex / group) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 749 |
| Type | Psychiatric hospital/mental institute/asylum |
| Category | Health services |
| Builders / Government architects |
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Rydalmere Hospital is a very old and important place in Rydalmere, Sydney, Australia. It used to be a home for children (an orphanage) and later a hospital for people with mental health issues. Today, it's part of the Western Sydney University campus.
This site was once known as the Female Orphan School and later the Protestant Orphan School. It is now called the Parramatta South Campus of the university. Because of its long history, it was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.
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History of Rydalmere Hospital
The land where Rydalmere Hospital now stands has a long history. In 1792, a surgeon named Thomas Arndell was given 60 acres of land here. This area was known as Arthur's Hill.
By 1800, people were already thinking about building an orphanage on this site. In 1810, plans were made for a Female Orphan School. A French settler named Francis Barrallier likely drew up the first designs.
The Female Orphan School (1813-1850)
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The first stone for the Female Orphan School was laid in 1813 by Governor Lachlan Macquarie. The building was finished in 1818. It is believed that Governor Macquarie's wife, Elizabeth Macquarie, designed the school. She based it on a house she remembered in Scotland.
The school could be reached from the river by a stone jetty. There was also a gravel drive for vehicles from Orphan School Lane (now James Ruse Drive). The main building had three stories. It was connected to two single-story wings on the east and west.
In 1820, work began on new parts of the school. By 1826, the garden was six acres and full of vegetables. However, the buildings had many problems. Repairs were needed for brickwork and drainage. New verandahs were built. The water supply and sewerage systems were also criticized.
More additions and repairs were made in the 1830s. This included fixing the poor water and drainage systems. The surrounding areas were also improved with flower gardens and trees. Plants were even sent from the Royal Botanical Gardens.
Before 1850, there was a separate Male Orphanage. It was first in Sydney, then in Cabramatta. To save money and because there were fewer children, the two orphanages joined together at Rydalmere in 1850. Even though they shared the same site, the boys and girls had separate facilities.
The Protestant Orphan School (1850-1887)
From 1850 to 1887, the site was known as the Protestant Orphan School. In 1854, the first hospital building was added. This was the first building specifically built for the combined orphanage.
By 1865, the buildings needed a lot of repair. Ceilings were falling, and floors were damaged. In 1870, many additions and renovations were done. The hospital got a verandah and a new bathroom. A new school building was also constructed. It was described as a "model" building in 1877.
The west wing held most of the boys' areas. This included dormitories and dining rooms. The east wing was mainly for the girls. It had their dining room and dormitories. The infants' nursery was in the northern part of this wing.
The outdoor areas were also improved. In 1870, twenty fig trees and twenty pine trees were sent from the Royal Botanic Gardens. A circular drive was built in front of the main entrance. In 1882, a new dormitory for forty beds was added.
Over time, government rules about caring for children changed. People started to prefer placing orphans with foster families instead of in large institutions like Rydalmere. In 1882, a new law was passed to help foster children in the community. By 1886, only sixty-five children were left at the Rydalmere Orphanage.
Rydalmere Psychiatric Hospital (1888-1987)
In 1888, the site became a hospital for people with mental health issues. It was first a part of the Parramatta Hospital for the Insane. The formal gardens were kept, but the ornamental gardens were redesigned.
The old orphanage buildings were in poor condition. Patients were moved in to help clean up the site. The school house was changed, and new verandahs were added. The old east and west wings were used as wards for patients.
In 1891, the site became its own hospital and was renamed Rydalmere Hospital for the Insane. A new boat shed and a Chief Attendant's Cottage were built in 1895. In the same year, the first female patients were admitted. They stayed in new wards built just for them.
More trees and shrubs were planted in 1893 and 1896. In 1905, a new stair block was added to the main building. This made more space for wards. After World War I, the hospital focused on improving existing facilities. Electricity was brought to the site.
By 1924, the hospital was considered old-fashioned. It was greatly updated in 1926. A verandah and balcony were added in 1938. After World War II, the hospital expanded even more. New buildings were created, and old ones were upgraded.
The main central building closed in 1969. Other buildings were still used for storage. In the 1960s and 1970s, more native plants were added to the hospital grounds. The hospital slowly closed down after 1985.
Western Sydney University Campus (1993-Present)
The Western Sydney University (UWS) established its Parramatta South Campus on the site in 1993. In March 1998, classrooms opened to students. The university has worked to restore and reuse parts of the old buildings for education.
New buildings like an auditorium, library, and student union have been added. The Female Orphan School building now houses the University Executive administration and the Whitlam Institute. In 2012, funding was announced to complete the restoration of the Female Orphan School.
What Rydalmere Hospital Looks Like
The Rydalmere Hospital area is bordered by Victoria Road, James Ruse Drive, Vineyard Creek, and the Parramatta River. It has many buildings, gardens, and natural areas.
The original Female Orphan School building is very grand. It has a central section with a triangular roof design. It was built in the Colonial Georgian style. It used sandstock bricks with sandstone details. From the south, it looks like a large house with two-story wings connected to the main building.
The Mortuary building is a good example of the Federation Free Style. It has a simple rectangular shape and a slate roof. It also has a detailed zinc lantern on top.
The first Orphanage hospital from the 1860s was a two-story building. It had verandahs on three sides. Later, these verandahs were enclosed, and the inside was changed to open spaces.
The former Head Master's Residence is a large two-story Victorian house. The Chief Attendant's Cottage is a smaller, single-story house. It is covered in timber and has a terra cotta tile roof. The boatshed is a small timber building with a gabled slate roof.
Before the university started its restoration work, the site was in poor condition. However, it has a lot of potential for finding old items from its past.
Why Rydalmere Hospital is Important
The Rydalmere Hospital site is very important because of its long history. It was used from 1813 to 1989 as a public place to care for people in need.
A First for Australia
This site was the first building made specifically to be an orphanage in the colony. This shows a big step in how Australia started its social welfare and education systems. The main central part of the original building is the oldest three-story building in Australia.
Beautiful Design and History
The original buildings, built between 1813 and 1818, show how British architectural styles were brought to New South Wales. The south side of the building still looks very clear and beautiful. It shows how the orphanage was meant to look towards the Parramatta River.
The site also shows different architectural styles from the 19th and early 20th centuries. These include Old Colonial Georgian, Victorian Regency, Federation Arts and Crafts, and Federation Free Style. The gardens and trees also show how the landscape changed over time.
Community and Social Changes
The history of the orphanage shows how private groups, churches, and the government worked together to help people. When the orphanage closed in 1888, it showed a new idea: that children should be fostered in the community.
When the site became a hospital for the mentally ill, it also showed changing ideas. At first, it was about keeping people confined. Later, after 1895, the focus shifted to better care and less confinement. These changes can be seen in how the buildings and landscape developed.
Learning from the Past
The site has the potential to teach us a lot. We can learn about how Aboriginal people used the land. We can also find clues about early European farming. There might be evidence of old buildings, living conditions, and how the land was used. It can also show us how buildings were designed and repaired in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The site also helps us understand the role of the Parramatta River for transport in early European settlement.
