Woodford Academy

Woodford Academy, dates back to the 1830s, making it the oldest group of buildings in the Blue Mountains. It's first use was as an inn called the 'Woodman', which served travellers on their way between Sydney and the western plains. It has had many owners and has served many other uses since then, including: a school, a guest house and a private residence.

The the railway station, adopted the name Woodford in 1871, after the renamed 'Woodford House', then owned by Alfred Fairfax. It latter became 'Woodford Academy', a school for 'young gentleman'.

In 1979 it was gifted to the National Trust of Australia, which has renovated and maintained the heritage property.

    Woodford Academy Open Days                Mid Mts Historical Soc.                      Location map

My thanks to the volunteer guides from Friends of Woodford Academy

Ref.  'A Brief History of Woodford Academy' - Friends of Woodford Academy

National Art School

The National Art School buildings, in Forbes Street, were originally Darlinghurst Gaol.
Built partly by convicts, and partly by the free labour, the gaol featured a panopticon, which allowed for surveillance of the prisoners from a central position.
Building of the prison commenced in 1822, but due to funding problems, it was not completed until the 1880’s. Convict transportation had ceased in 1840 and treating prisoners more humanely was one element of the much larger endeavour of creating a civil society.


The Chapel building (below) was restored in 2004 and is used for life drawing classes.

The former Chapel. NSA

                The Art School grew out of Sydney Technical College. The Department of Art was moved from Ultimo to the disused Darlinghurst Gaol site (1922), and after extensive modifications, it occupying five buildings alongside other departments from East Sydney Technical College. The name 'National Art School' was embraced during the 1950's, although it had been used earlier.

The National Art School Bachelor of Fine Art degree was accredited in 1998 and the three-year course began in 1999. NSA has a Gallery in one of the original gaol building which was refurbished and opened in 2006.

NSA is behind the Darlinghurst Court House at Taylor Square on Oxford Street         Location map         NAS info





References:  Dictionary of Sydney - National Art School and Darlinghurst Gaol ;  NAS - History

Parramatta Park (2)

Parramatta River in Parramatta Park

A useful map showing a walking route along Parramatta River, mostly within Parramatta Park, can be viewed on 'Step Where'. - thanks to contributor 'MnM'

The Governor's Dairy - Parramatta Park

The two front rooms of the Dairy Cottage (above) were built by an ex-convict, George Salter and represent the earliest surviving worker's cottage in Australia. The Cottage was sold to Governor Macquarie in 1813 and was converted to a diary by the addition of two wings.
The Parramatta Park Trust run tours of the dairy twice a month.

Transit stones (left) from the Parramatta Observatory  built in 1822 by Governor Thomas Brisbane, who was a keen amateur scientist.
It is not far from Old Government House, and was used by early astronomers and surveyors before it's demolished in 1847.

There is a marble memorial obelisk and an information display nearby, and the Park Trust is currently working to conserve the site.
I have read that Sydney Observatory, houses relics from Parramatta including a telescope and clock.

The surveyor Thomas Mitchell used these transit stones, which supported a transit circle telescope, as the initial mark for the first trigonometric survey of Australia (1828)

A detailed history of the observatory  can be found on Andrew James Southern Astronomical web site

Macquarie St Gatehouse

Parramatta Park has six gatehouses including the Macquarie Street Gatehouse (above) and the much photographed Tudor style George Street Gatehouse.

We didn't stop here on this walk, but Parramatta Park Café has a pleasant location  near the river (see map) 


For more information on Parramatta Park please see my earlier post.




Self-guided walking tour brochures of the park's historic areas can be downloaded or obtained from the Park Administration Office. 

Parramatta Park (1)

Parramatta Park

Parramatta Park is one of the largest parks in Western Sydney. It was proclaimed in August 1858 and is one of Australia's most important cultural landscapes.

Old Government House, Parramatta

Old Government House (Australia's oldest surviving public building) and Domain is included in the ‘Australian Convict Sites World Heritage Property’
It has been undergoing major restoration this year, which is the bicentenary of Governor Lachlan Macquarie.

The Bath House, Parramatta

Although it seems an upmarket Restaurant, Lauchlan’s at Old Government house has a cafe menu available for morning tea, light lunch and afternoon tea. 

A grape vine seen on the left of the photo should add to the ambiance when it is in leaf.

 The Bath House was built in 1822 with a Roman style bath for Governor Brisbane.
It was later converted into a bandstand pavilion for public use.


Parramatta can be reached from Sydney by Cityrail train (~30 minutes) or by Rivercat ferry, see my Circular Quay to Parramatta post.



For more about Parramatta Park, please is my second post on the park.