School's Early Troubles

It was believed that the construction of a new bridge over the Georges River would increase the demand for land and therefore result in an increase of the population around Wedderburn. In the decade before, many settlers had cleared the bushland for planting of orchards and farms, although at the time that land was being set aside for a school in the early 1890s, there were still not enough students. Wedderburn School opened in 1896 on a two-acre block of land granted by the Government.

Following its opening, the school encountered problems. The Campbelltown Herald reported "Travellers along the Wedderburn Road have often been surprised, and sometimes amused, to have that once uninviting structure - the Wedderburn School- pointed out as the building set aside for educational purposes. Its wooden walls, unpainted and stained by all sorts of weather, and its galvanised iron roof presented anything but a charming appearance to the passers-by".

Dwindling student numbers were another problem faced by the school in the early years. In 1916, enrolment had dropped to just 14, with eight under school age. The parents were fighting to keep the school opened and to make the necessary repairs. The neighbouring Campbelltown South School took the furniture from Wedderburn School thinking that it was closed! They were immediately asked to return it. In 1919 the school was described as "in a disgusting state".

Termites were a real menace. They were so bad that one teacher had to stand or sit on one of the children's desks, because her chair had been eaten by termites, and there were no other chairs available. Problems with termites persisted in the following years, with continual repairs carried out. They were still around in 1928, after the school was reopened after being closed from 1921 to 1924. An inspection found the old building to be "riddled every inch by white ants and beyond repair". Solutions were sought but within four years the school again needed repairs as the white ant capping was found to be defective.

The present weatherboard building was moved there in 1936 from Nepean Dam. It also needed repairs due to termite infestation. In 1956, the school closed as a provisional school and opened as a public school. The school finally closed in 1976. Today the site is used by WestWords, a Western Sydney centre for writing, as a writer's retreat.

Above is the weatherboard building moved to the school in 1936 (photo courtesy of Marie Holmes)

Written by Andrew Allen

Sources:

"Wedderburn" by Marie Holmes

In Grist Mills: Journal of Campbelltown and Airds Historical Society

Vol. 10, No. 2, April 1997 pp 26-48

Campbelltown Herald, 7 December 1898, p2

Campbelltown News, 22 October 1937, p2

HOLMES, Marie 2012

A Scrapbook of History: stories of the Macarthur District 

Campbelltown: Campbelltown and Airds Historical Society

Springfield House (Amaroo)

Campbelltown Library's recent Great Australian Dream Project resulted in many interesting photographs as entries for the competition. This post will cover a building named Springfield House and a subsequent post will describe another exciting entry of a house that has a "colourful" history.

The magnificent Springfield House was built in 1962 by Harry Springfield, who sold it a year later to Lend Lease Corporation. The house, which won an architectural award, was situated on 75 acres of land, somewhere near the end of Fitzgibbon Lane in today's Rosemeadow. Originally named "Amaroo" (purportedly indigenous for a 'beautiful place'), at the time of construction it was in an isolated paddock. The closest surrounding developed lands at the time were Bradbury and the original Campbelltown Golf Course. The Springfields ran beef cattle and grew various crops.

 After "Amaroo" was sold by Harry in 1963, Lend Lease was able to strike up a deal which allowed Harry and his family to live there for about 18 years until it was sold. The Springfields loved living there. Harry expressed to a local newspaper that "I have had the pleasure of bringing up most of my family in it".

The two-story house had 3 bedrooms and a study that could be converted into a fourth bedroom. It had a large 'rumpus' room downstairs, billiard room and an indoor lanai garden with a small in-ground fishpond room. There were spectacular views on the horizon of the Sydney CBD buildings and even of Mt Victoria in the Blue Mountains.

After the Springfields moved to Menangle Park, the building was used as a community arts centre. It opened in 1983 with a spectacular bonfire. (not to burn the place down!) With the threat of resumption by the State Planning and Environment Department, the house was sold and owned by various entities including Lend Lease and the Department of Housing. It fell into dis-repair after severe vandalism and a fire caused by suspected arson in early 1990 led to its demolition.

The photographs of the house below were all entries in the Great Australian Dream Project and were supplied by Barry Springfield. The project aimed at recording various types of architecture from the period 1920-1979 in the Campbelltown area. Other houses entered for the project can be found on Campbelltown Library's website or by visiting Great Australian Dream Project - Campbelltown City Council

West wing of "Amaroo" AKA Springfield House while under construction. The view is looking at the upstairs kitchen and loungeroom and verandah. The lower ground double garage is alongside the indoor lanai room. The house is nearly completed with trees and lawns yest to be established. (Barry Springfield Collection)