Sydney Grammar School - College Street - Sydney

 

Sydney Grammar School - College Street - Sydney 

Sydney Grammar School, located on College Street in Sydney, New South Wales, is one of Australia's oldest and most prestigious educational institutions. Its history dates back to the early 19th century and is closely tied to the development of education in Australia. Here is an overview of the history of Sydney Grammar School:

Early Years and Founding:

1. Establishment: Sydney Grammar School was founded in 1854 by Sir Henry Parkes, a prominent colonial politician and later known as the "Father of Federation" for his role in the formation of the Australian nation. The school was established with the aim of providing a high-quality education to boys in Sydney.

Growth and Development:

2. Early Location: The school initially operated from a small building in Sussex Street, but it soon outgrew this space due to its popularity and reputation for academic excellence.

3. Move to College Street: In 1857, the school moved to its current location on College Street, where it has remained to this day. The school's main building, designed by the renowned colonial architect Edmund Blacket, is an architectural masterpiece and is still in use.

Notable Alumni and Impact:

4. Prominent Alumni: Over the years, Sydney Grammar School has produced numerous prominent alumni who have made significant contributions to various fields, including politics, business, science, arts, and academia.

5. Academic Excellence: The school has a long-standing tradition of academic excellence and is known for its rigorous curriculum and high academic standards. It has consistently ranked among the top schools in Australia for academic achievement.

Traditions and Achievements:

6. Sporting and Cultural Activities: In addition to academics, Sydney Grammar School places a strong emphasis on extracurricular activities, including sports, music, drama, and debating. The school has a rich tradition of success in these areas.

7. Debating Tradition: Sydney Grammar School is particularly well-known for its debating teams, which have achieved success at the national and international levels.

Modern Era:

8. Co-Educational: While historically a boys-only school, Sydney Grammar School has expanded its educational offerings and, in 2016, opened a co-educational junior school. The school continues to adapt to changing educational needs.

9. Commitment to Tradition: Despite modernization and expansion, the school remains committed to preserving its historical traditions and values, including its focus on academic excellence, critical thinking, and character development.

10. Centenary Building: In 2019, Sydney Grammar School unveiled the Centenary Building, a state-of-the-art facility designed to enhance the educational experience for students and further its commitment to academic excellence.

Sydney Grammar School has played a significant role in the educational and cultural life of Sydney and Australia. It continues to uphold its reputation as one of the country's premier educational institutions, providing a strong foundation for the future leaders and innovators of Australia.

Captain Cook Statue - Hyde Park South - Unveiled 25th February 1879 - Sydney - New South Wales

 

The Captain Cook Statue - Hyde Park - Sydney - NSW

The Captain Cook Statue Is In The South Of Hyde Park 
The Sculpture Stands On A Moruya Granite Pedestool. 
This Work Was Commissioned On The 26th September 1874 & Was unveiled To The Public On The 25th February 1879 
It Was Made By Thomas Woolner (1825 - 1892). He Was Born In Hadleigh, Suffolk, & Studied At The Royal Academy. He Travelled To Australia in 1852, & Went On To Have Limited Success On The Voctorian Goldfields. 
The Day Of The Sculpture's Unveilling Was Declared A Public Holiday In Honour Of Cook & The Monument. It Was Estimated That 12,000 Joined The Procession To Hyde Park & 60,000 People Attended. 

Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Tuesday 25 February 1879, page 7

Hyde Park Barracks - Macquarie Street

Hyde Park Barracks - Queens Square - Macquarie Street.

Built - 1817 - 1819

Architect - Francis Greenway

Hyde Park Barracks & The Government Horse Stables Located Near Government House On Macquarie Street Were The Two Great Accomplishments Of Francis Greenways Work Under The Authority Of Governor Macqaurie.

When Commissioner Bigge Arrived In Sydney In 1820 To Conduct His Investigation Of Governor Macquarie & What Was Going On With The Emancipast Reform In The Colony. The Two Buildings Which Threw The Most Anger At Colonial Government Decadence Was The Government Horse Stables Which Was Close 






Hyde Park Barracks Is One Of Only 2 World Heritage Sites In Central Sydney. The Hyde Park Barracks Was Built By Convicts, For Convicts.

 It Was Designed & Built By Francis Greenway Who Was Appointed  The Colony's First Civil Architect  By Governor Lachlan Macquarie In 1816. 

It Only Took 2 Years to complete & Became The Centre Of Convict Administration & The Colony's Principal Convict Barracks, With An Estimated 50,000 Prisoners Passing Through It's Gates Between  1819 &  1848

After Transportation Was Abolished in 1848, Hyde Park Barracks Became Sydney's Female Immigration Depot, & Then An Asylum for The Aged & Destitute, & It Provided Shelter For Approx 50,000 Women & Their Children Until 1887. It Then Became A Legal  Hub, Housing Complex Courts & Government Offices. 

The Heritage Value Of Hyde Park Barracks Was Finally Recognised In 1981 With Protection Under The NSW Heritage Act 1977, & in 1984, The Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences Transformed It Into  A Museum. 

Hyde Park Barracks Was Designed By Francis Greenway, & Was The Main Barracks That The Convicts Would be Housed In. 

It Was Officially Ooened On June 4th 1819 By Governor Lachlan Macquarie 

What would Francis Greenway, a perfectionist, have thought of the hideous jumble of buildings that has been allowed to spoil the symmetry of the Barricks now queen square?

If the modern rubbish is ever cleared away from the buildings we shall be able to appreciate the imagination of 18th-century men who could bestow dignity even on a prison.

The male convict Barricks, began in 1817 and finished the following year, would house up to 1000 felons in large dormitories. This was a Macqaurie’s scheme for ridding  the town of gangs of convicts turned loose at night.

After their days labour on government works they slept where they could, an extra ordinary system that led to robbery and violence; Some of the convicts even used hire pistols for a night marauding.

Greenways three stories Barricks are one of his best work. The Sydney Gazette Of the day called it 

“a noble structure executed comfortably with the most elegant proportions of the Greek school”

Macqaurie was so pleased that he gave Greenway His Full pardon. He Arranged for the building to have a handsome clock-since replaced – 

And gave the craftsman that made it a grant of 500 acres.

From the 1840’s to the 1880s the main part of the Barricks with used to lodge newly arrived immigrant women from the British Isles.

A district court was squeezed into one corner, and room was later made for the institution for ageD females. The law officers who finally took over the  building are mainly to blame for its present sorry appearance.

Female immigration depot

Hyde Park barracks, a former convict dormitory, was adapted in 1848 as Sydney’s female immigration depot to, to protect and process women arriving in the colony under various government schemes.

Up until 1886, thousands of impoverished working class women were housed here, some with their children, before starting new lives in Australia.

A contemporary monument in the compound wall commemorates the many Irish immigrants and workhouse girls who came to New South Wales fleeing the Irish famine.

Old Convict Sites

Hyde Park Barracks is a historic site located in Sydney, Australia, and is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It has a rich history and has served various functions over the years. Here's an overview of the history of Hyde Park Barracks:

Construction and Purpose:

• Hyde Park Barracks was designed by architect Francis Greenway and completed in 1819.
• It was built to accommodate male convicts who were assigned to government labor and needed housing in Sydney.

Convict Accommodation:

• The barracks provided accommodation for convicts who were assigned to various government projects and labor, such as building roads, bridges, and other infrastructure.
• It played a significant role in the convict system of the early colonial period.

Design and Layout:

• The building's design is in the Georgian architectural style and features a long and symmetrical facade.
• It consists of three floors with rooms that were used for sleeping and communal spaces.

Overcrowding and Changes:

• Over the years, the barracks became overcrowded, and the conditions for the convicts were often harsh.
• In the mid-19th century, the building's use shifted to house immigrant women and girls, known as "female immigration depot."

Adaptations and Uses:

• In the late 19th century, the building was used for various purposes, including a courthouse and government offices.
• It was also used as a part of the university and a repository for legal documents.

Preservation and Restoration:

• In the 20th century, efforts were made to preserve Hyde Park Barracks as a historic site.
• The building underwent restoration to bring it closer to its original appearance during the convict era.

World Heritage Status:

• In 2010, Hyde Park Barracks was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the "Australian Convict Sites" World Heritage property.

Museum and Interpretive Center:

• Today, Hyde Park Barracks operates as a museum and interpretive center that provides insights into the lives of convicts, immigrants, and the building's historical context.
• It offers visitors a chance to learn about the experiences of those who lived and worked within its walls.

Hyde Park Barracks is not only a historic building but also a place of education and reflection, offering a glimpse into Australia's colonial history and the lives of those who shaped the nation's development

The John Fraser Public Fountain - Hyde Park

John Fraser Public Fountain - Hyde Park- New South Wales

 

John Fraser Was An Irish Businessman

And Philanthropist