Set in the tranquil grounds of Western Sydney University, the Female Orphan School is the oldest three-storey building in Australia, having been built in 1814 by Governor Macquarie to house and educate vulnerable young girls in the colony.
When the first 70 girls were admitted in 1818 it was several decades ahead of the mother country in the provision of state-provided social welfare. Over the years it was expanded to also accommodate boys
(although the two sexes were kept separated) until the 1880s when the concept of foster homes was seen as a better option than orphanages for the children.
The site then became a mental asylum, with a sad history of overcrowding, understaffing and barbaric medical treatments. The Female Orphan School building was so neglected that it eventually closed in 1969, however the mental hospital still used other buildings on the site until 1985.
Western Sydney University began using the site as its Parramatta Campus in 1995 and in 2000, restoration was begun on the old buildings. The Female Orphan School is now home to the Whitlam Institute, Whitlam Prime Ministerial Collection and Margaret Whitlam Galleries.
We had a group of twelve meet for a tour on Tuesday 7 May 2024. The visit started with coffee at the River Café followed by a fabulous talk by our guide, Deb. The rain held off enough for us to be able to take in the beautiful architecture and see how the building had been modified through the different uses to which it had been put. Inside the walls reveal different layers of paint and decoration enriching the stories of the past. Much of the interior has been modernized so that it is now a comfortable and accessible space for the museum and art gallery. We finished our visit with lunch at the Boilerhouse restaurant on campus.
The Female Orphan School is open Wednesdays and Thursdays 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Entry is free. Heritage Building Tours are available for $10 per person. Bookings for groups are essential.
Sharon Peterson