HEART OF A FLEDGLING NATION Looking back at the foundation of the Female Orphan School, Eric says, “at the time, it was very enlightened”. In those conservative times, the Macquaries saw virtue in moving female orphans away from the vices and scandals of Sydney and into the countryside. “Governor Macquarie was a nation builder, with a vision of Australia being an independent nation of free settlers. The building became a further statement of Macquarie’s view of the nature of government in a thriving colony and its responsibilities to the disadvantaged settlers.” The final autocratic military Governor of NSW made two important decisions about the building: that it was an orphan school, not just an orphanage; and that no convict labour was to be used. “Again, those decisions were reflective of his humanitarian, enlightened view of the world,” says Eric. The building has had four distinct periods in its history. From 1818 until 1850, it was explicitly a female orphan school and then between 1850-1886 it was a co-ed orphan school called the Protestant Orphan School. From 1888 to 1988, it was the Rydalmere Psychiatric Hospital. “What that means, in a sense, is that this building is almost like a time capsuleofAustralia’ssocialpolicyhistory–education,health,community: it is all represented through what has happened in this building, says Eric. Despite its historic value, the Female Orphan School was effectively abandoned in 1969, even though the psychiatric hospital remained open for another 20 years. By the time the university took over the site, it was scheduled for demolition. “That seems extraordinary now,” says Eric. “The university, to its credit, determined that the building would be restored, but it took 15 years.” The restoration occurred in three stages: the central section was opened in 2003 for the first time since 1969, while the west wing followed eight years later, in 2011. And then, in 2012, the Gillard Government granted $7 million to establish the building as the permanent home of the Whitlam Institute, which was established in a 2000 Memorandum of Understanding with Western Sydney University. It allowed the East Wing to be restored and the other sections of the building to be completed. The final restoration was opened on 24 September2013,200yearstothedaythatMacquarielaidthefoundation stone. “It was a huge undertaking,” says Eric. “An extraordinary saga.” After centuries of hard use and, for much of that time, neglect, the Female Orphan School was once again ready to teach generations about the history of modern Australia, and to further shape its future. VISIT THE ORPHAN SCHOOL The Whitlam Institute cares for 35,000 items of Gough Whitlam’s Prime Ministerial collection, including his original letter of dismissal as Prime Minister from the Governor General. The Female Orphan School has regular art exhibitions, group tours and debates, and is open to the public on Thursdays and Fridays, and the second Saturday of the month. Check the Whitlam.org website for details. Photos courtesy of the Whitlam Institute. MERCEDES-BENZ PARRAMATTA 24 CULTURE