54 Monkleys Road

Millers Forest NSW 2324

Large land grants and purchases saw the countryside along the Hunter River carved up for farming. Duckenfield, Woodberry, Berry Park, Osterley and Millers Forest all started this way. Specifically, Lieut Vickers Jacobs 2,000 acre purchase, recognised today as Millers Forest.

Rich alluvial soil meant thriving crops in the region became Sydneys food bowl. Fresh produce and grain was shipped down the river until successive floods took their toll.

Dairying took over as the dominant industry across the district with Millers Forest establishing its own co-operative creamery around the 1890s. Local farmers prospered and some very grand homes were built in the area, namely Duckenfield House and Berry House.

With a great number of farming families in and around Millers Forest, the demand for community infrastructure, such as schools and churches.

St. Patricks School c. 1887

The triangular piece of land, originally Lot 13 of the Vickers Jacob grant was donated by Mr. J.J. Kearney in 1880 to the Catholic Church.
The Sisters of Mercy opened Saint Patrick's Roman Catholic School in April 1887.

Research conducted in 2003 by Cynthia Hunter has confirmed that the humble school building holds substantial architectural significance.
Designed by the legendary architect Fredrick Menkens, it appears that St. Patrick's School shares an impressive pedigree. Iconic buildings around Newcastle such as the Tabernacle on Laman Street, the Fred Ash Warehouse on Hunter Street Newcastle and the ornate Woods Chambers on Scott Street are just a few examples of Menkens work.

The timber structure, raised upon brick pylons, originally comprised of a central hall divided by partitions into two classrooms. A 2.5 metre wide verandah extending along the northern and southern sides were enclosed at each end to provide a separate boys and girls hat room, a staff lunch room and a kitchen.

The school building was positioned toward the front and centre of the lot, with the old sulky and weather shed behind and play grounds each side serviced by separate girls and boys long drop toilets or Thunder Boxes.

A row of fig and pine trees were planted c. 1887 to define the boundaries.

More students were enrolled in Saint Patrick's than in the Raymond Terrace equivalent between 1860 through to the 1890s.

When the school closed in 1954, it was decided that the building be used as a place of worship until 1972 after which time it was used by Saint Vincent De Paul for storage until it was eventually sold.

The property exchanged hands one more time approximately a decade ago during which time a sympathetic restoration of the building resulted in what you see today.

Warrawee c. 1900

Historical references to the two storey colonial style house are generally made in conjunction with Saint Patricks School opposite and with the OBrien family.

Warrawees 40 acre allotment is one of the original 40 lots carved out of the initial Vickers Jacob Grant.

The first generation (Thomas and Johannah) OBriens bought Warrawee sometime before 1901, when their son Leo was recorded being born there. All seven OBrien children attended Saint Patricks school across the road, establishing the long relationship between the two buildings.

The two storey weatherboard house with an iron roof and concrete floors originally had 10 rooms and a wide verandah wrapping around both levels. Most rooms had an open fire whilst cooking was conducted out the back on a wooden stove.

PRESENT
Saint Patrick's School 49 Monkleys Road

Still occupying the same triangular piece of land 137 years on, the former school building by iconic architect Fredrick Menkens has gracefully stood the test of time with minimal augmentation.

The established gardens surrounding the structure require little maintenance. Strategically planted, they blur the hard edges whilst grounding the elevated building. Loose gravel infill bordered by timber sleepers neatly frame the building.

Mature fig and Norfolk Island pine trees, now over a century old, tower over the boundaries, clearly defining the property.

The traditional cedar timber structure is uncomplicated, both in appearance and arrangement. The symmetrical composition consists of a main, central hall, 8m x 20m with 2.5m wide verandahs extending along the north and south sides. Each end is enclosed, creating separate small rooms that bookend the verandah for added protection. The total available floor area is an impressive 195m2 not including the covered verandahs.

The expansive interior is naturally illuminated by multiple large double hung sash windows. The wide hard-wood floorboards are a rich, deep coffee colour whilst the rest of the timber clad interior is painted, including the pitched ceiling. Approximately four meters high, the lofty ceiling suggests a formal atmosphere.

Remaining in place from its period as a place of worship, the altar at the eastern end is raised up on a set of three wide steps forming an elevated stage. The elaborately finished original red cedar altar rail along the lower step creates an unusual point of conversation.

A basic kitchenette is within the enclosed verandah area opposite to a bathroom at the north end. The kitchen is functional with a sink installed on a timber bench, open shelving below and a free-standing electric oven. Completing the bathroom is a corner shower unit, single vanity and toilet.

There are two more rooms at the western end of the building of similar size. One is vacant whilst the other presents po