HERITAGE NEWSLETTER OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS ASSOCIATION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE ORGANISATIONS INC. MARCH - APRIL 2011 ISSUE No. 14 A tower all that remains of San Jose Standing like the remnants of a medieval European watchtower from which a feudal lord could check his domain or watch for the menace of a Saracan attack, the tower on land off San Jose Avenue, Lawson conjures up many ideas as to what the original owner might have been thinking when it was constructed. HERITAGE is grateful to John Merriman, Local Studies Librarian, Blue Mountains City Library for the following article. The original building with its three floor levels and tower was constructed in 1879 and named “San Jose”, by Joseph (Jose) Guillermo Hay, an official in the Lands Department, who had received a grant of 300 acres at Lawson the previous year. In the 1880s Hay took advantage of the Blue Mountains’ new and growing reputation as a health and recreation retreat, and by 1882 the name “San Jose” had the words “The Blue Mountains Sanatorium” added to it and described in a local guidebook as “the best for private OAM FOR MARY REYNOLDS On Australia Day 2011 Mary San Jose tower which when attached to a three storey building became Reynolds was awarded the Stratford Girls School. Photograph by John Leary, OAM. February 2010 Medal of the Order of Australia. families” and “with grounds laid out The original Stratford School was Mary is a well-known and highly with romantic paths in all founded in Lawson in 1915 by Miss respected researcher and writer directions”. Edith Townsend Wiles who began of the history of her own classes with six pupils in a rented In 1889 Hay applied for a publican’s communities of Mt Wilson and cottage named Tahlia, on the licence for the property then known Mt Irvine, and also maintains a Bathurst Road as the highway was as “Hay’s Family Hotel”, described keen interest in the heritage of then known. as having fourteen rooms for public the wider Blue Mountains region. use. By 1919 the old cottage was When she and her husband Ellis “bursting at the seams” and a move During the 1890s the property was came to live in Mt Wilson in became imperative. The school acquired by John Ralston who ran it 1986, Mary soon became made the move across the highway as a guesthouse known as “The involved as a volunteer with the and railway line taking the name Palace” for the next two decades Woodford Academy and also “Stratford School for Girls” with it. until, in 1919, it eventually took the with Norman Lindsay Gallery. name and function for which it is Continued page 3 Continued page 9 best known. HERITAGE 1 March - April 2011 Contents......... From the president’s pen...... HERITAGE March - April 2011 Humbug and delay in way of heritage *P1 A tower all that remains of San Jose advisory committee For almost 5 years BMACHO has been Eventually a report must come to attempting to have Blue Mountains City council for decision, but it will be a Council reestablish a heritage advisory disgrace if as seems likely, this is a committee, something many would watered down version. Other councils think would be a simple task. can find both the necessary resources to service and also see such a The humbug and delay at best could committee as a useful adjunct to its be described as a frustration, while the professional services. A committee with *P1 OAM for Mary more conspiracy minded might think no real tasks, meeting as infrequently Reynolds council and its staff have something to as four times a year, will not encourage *P2 Humbug and delay hide; of which there is no obvious those in the community to share the in way of heritage evidence. wealth of knowledge that exists and advisory committee could be available to Blue Mountains *P4 Glenbrook walks Many local government units in NSW City Council. and talks and in fact around Australia have *P5 “Is heritage established this type of committee BMACHO’s proposal is not for the relevant to today’s which draws upon the expertise of both creation of some watchdog that keeps community?” academics/professionals and that of an eye on council and its staff. It is *P5 Seahorse fountain volunteers in historical societies and simply to see the utIlisation of the great spouting heritage groups in the community. wealth of knowledge of heritage matters *P6 More talks with which abounds in the community. BMCC on heritage The purpose of such a committee is to Already some in the heritage sector advisory committee advise council on all matters pertaining have walked away from the proposal *P7 Forests, Timber to the heritage of this city and to because of the delays and frustration and Milling in Mt Irvine promote awareness and understanding and if there is not some real progress in *P10 Trust award for of the heritage of the region. the future others are likely to do the Norman Lindsay same. Let’s not squander yet another stalwart A fairly simple but potentially a very opportunity. *P10 Lincoln Hall to valuable committee to a council; speak at Norman particularly one such as the Blue Lindsay Mountains City Council with something Thanks for the *P10 Walk through like 1100 heritage sites in addition to experience Darks Common having within its municipal boundaries As some will know, I will after 5 years at *P10 Cox’s Road walk the UNESCO listed Blue Mountains the helm, step down from the *P11 Lithgow Family World Heritage Area. presidency of BMACHO later this History to celebrate month, due to ill health. I take this silver anniversay It is prudent for council staff to examine opportunity to thank so many who have *P11 Mudgee’s early committee models operating in other worked with me to achieve the links with horse racing local government areas and there is objectives of this organisation.There *P14 Boat people, 1788 some reason to believe that local staff have been some real achievements and - 1922 might have higher priorities, but surely a few frustrations, but what we have *P15 Glenbrook’s a responsible council must give done to promote heritage and to bring horse trough - a new heritage some status in the community together like minded bodies to share role in retirement fabric. ideas has been most worthwhile. *P17 Royal award for Les and Anne And indeed there are many areas in I thank everyone for the courtesies they *P17 Indexes = council’s administration where it have extended to Nanette and I over Information obviously places a high regard on the these past years – it really has been a heritage and history of the people it wonderful and rewarding experience serves. Further evidence can be found working for our heritage. The new in the actions of former deputy mayor friendships I have gained in this period Janet Mays supported by Greens will be cherished. Thank you one and councillors when they successfully all. moved that the possibility of re- establishing a heritage advisory John Leary, OAM *P18 Colonial committee be investigated back in President, Blue Mountains vineyard’s history June last year. Association of Cultural Heritage salvaged Organisations Inc. HERITAGE 2 March - April 2011 Sanatorium became Stratford Girls School Continued from page 1 In 1924 Miss Wiles and her sister, who was also a member of staff, purchased the building from the Ralston estate and were then able to make additions and alterations to accommodate the school. When Miss Wiles died in 1930, the enrolment was 49 girls of which 31 were boarders, five girls sat for the intermediate certificate exam and two girls sat the leaving certificate. Control then passed to the Stratford School Council and subsequently, in 1936, to the Church of England, Stratford ruins after the fire, photographed by Neil Billington(1983) for and the school entered its heyday Blue Mountains City Library. as “Stratford Church of England School for Girls”. There were three school terms, During the winter, swimming each 13 weeks long, though the lessons were abandoned and wood “The development of capable girls were allowed one weekend fires were lit in the assembly hall Christian gentlewomen in an mid-term to visit relations or friends. and classrooms. exceptionally healthy, bracing and Travel to and from Sydney for invigorating climate” - that was the vacations and mid-term holidays, Stratford girls, unlike their promise of Stratford School, to was always supervised by a counterparts at Osborne College, prospective students and parents in mistress from the school. Blackheath, were also afforded the the 1940s-50s. privilege of a hot water service. During term, visitors were allowed, According to a 1950s school by arrangement with the The prospectus makes no mention prospectus, boarders at Stratford headmistress, but no student could of students’ academic records, but enjoyed an atmosphere of accept invitations without written in the early 1950s, following a individuality and co-operation. permission from her parents. Non- report by the Department of Pupils were “fitted for practical vacation weekends were devoted to Education; the school was reduced business”, whilst encouraged to healthy activities and visits to to intermediate certificate level. regard life from the stand-point of places of interest in the district. high ideals and to further their The 1957 fees brochure shows that studies at university. As with most Blue Mountains the leaving certificate had been boarding schools of the era, great reinstated and announced the Stratford’s curriculum, extending emphasis was placed on fresh air, launch of a building fund to raise from primary to leaving certificate, healthy diet and wholesome £5,000 for the erection of new and included scripture, English, history, activities.