Toxteth Park, Glebe facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Toxteth Park
Toxteth Park, now located in St Scholastica's College
Location	Glebe, City of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Built	1829
Built for	George Allen
Architect	John Verge
Owner	St Scholastica's College
Invalid designation
Official name: House "Toxteth Lodge" Including Interior; St Scholastica's College including buildings and their interiors, fencing, and grounds

Toxteth Park is a historic house in Glebe, a suburb of Sydney, Australia. It was designed and built in 1829 by a famous architect named John Verge. Today, this grand house is part of St Scholastica's College.

The house and its land are listed as important historical sites in New South Wales. For many years, the Allen family owned Toxteth Park. Then, in 1901, the Catholic Church bought it. It became a convent and a school. Now, the building is used by the Sisters of the Good Samaritan. You can even arrange tours to see inside this amazing old house!

Who Lived at Toxteth Park?

The Allen Family: George and Jane Allen

Mr George Allen and Mrs Jane Allen c. 1860

George Allen was born in London in 1800. When he was 16, he moved to Australia with his family. He trained to be a solicitor, which is a type of lawyer. In 1822, he became the first solicitor in Australia to get his legal training right there in the colony.

George was a very religious person. He helped start groups like the Benevolent Society, which helps people in need. He also had important jobs in politics. He was the Mayor of Sydney from 1844 to 1845. Later, he was a member of the New South Wales Parliament.

In 1823, George married Jane Bowden. They had many children, ten of whom grew up.

Building Toxteth Park

In 1829, George Allen asked the famous architect John Verge to build Toxteth House. It was built on a large piece of land in Glebe, about 39 hectares (96 acres) big. The first house Verge built was a two-story building with smaller parts on the sides. It had a stone porch around two sides.

The gardens were very fancy. They had an orchard, which is a place with fruit trees. There was even a large private cricket ground! Over the years, George Allen built other houses on his land, like Tranby and Emslee. In 1847, he built a church on the property for his family and friends. George loved plants and flowers. His gardens had many different kinds of trees and flowers. He even won awards for his plants at a show in 1845.

George Allen passed away at Toxteth Park in 1877. His oldest son, George Wigram Allen, then inherited the property.

Toxteth Park, c. 1875. The house on the far left is Tranby. The next house is Emslee. Both houses still stand in Mansfield Street, Glebe. The large house to the right of these is Toxteth Park before the alterations were made. The area in the centre of the photo is the private cricket ground.

Sir George Wigram Allen and Lady Allen

Sir George Wigram Allen c. 1880

Lady Allen c. 1900

George Wigram Allen was born in Sydney in 1824. He followed in his father's footsteps and became a solicitor. In 1851, he married Marian Clapham Boyce at the Toxteth Park Chapel. They had eleven children.

George Wigram Allen had a very important career. He was the Mayor of Glebe for a while. He also became a member of the New South Wales Parliament. In 1875, he was chosen to be the Speaker of the Assembly, which is a very important role in government. For his work, he received a special honor called a knighthood in 1877.

When his father died in 1877, George Wigram Allen inherited Toxteth Park. But he didn't move in right away. He wanted to make big changes to the house. He added a third floor, a tall tower, and even a ballroom for parties!

In the 1880s, some of the land around Toxteth Park was sold. New houses were built there. After George Wigram Allen died in 1885, more of the land was sold off. Lady Allen, his wife, stayed at Toxteth Park until about 1900. Before she left, her son Arthur took many photos of the house and its grounds.

Toxteth Park Becomes a School

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  The library at Toxteth Park c. 1890

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  The Chapel at Toxteth Park built by George Allen c. 1900. It was later taken down for a new church.

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  The stables and carriage house at Toxteth Park c. 1890

The Sisters of the Good Samaritan School in Pitt Street c. 1880. The gates are on the left.

A closer look at the gates.

St Scholastica's High School was first opened in Pitt Street, Sydney, in 1878. It was run by the Sisters of the Good Samaritan. However, in 1899, the government decided to build Central Railway Station. This meant many buildings, including the school, had to be taken down.

So, Toxteth Park was bought, and the school moved to its new home in Glebe. The old gates from the Pitt Street school were brought to Toxteth Park. They are still used at the school today!