A historic slice of Millers Forest with more than a century of stories to tell will go under the hammer next month.
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The former St Patrick’s School, and iconic two-storey colonial style home Warrawee hit the market last week.
Both sites were created out of the Vickers Jacob grant. The school, which opened in 1887, was initially named Lot 13 in the grant and was donated to the Catholic Church in 1880. Mr J.J. Kearney gifted the land to the church and architect Frederick Menkens, who designed many iconic buildings around Newcastle, put his stamp on the school’s look.
The building was raised up on brick pylons, had a timber structure, and provided a central hall which was divided into two classrooms with partitions.
A wide verandah on the northern and southern sides, which was closed in, provided a boys hat room and a girls hat room as well as a kitchen and staff room.
When the Sisters of Mercy opened the school in April 1887 it was called Saint Patrick's Roman Catholic School and was a popular place for children to receive an education.
In fact, more students were enrolled in the school than in a similar school in Raymond Terrace during its early years.
Fig and pine trees were planted along the boundaries when the school opened and they still stand today. There was also a sulky and weather shed behind the school as well as the toilets.
The school closed in 1954 and was used as a place of worship until 1972. It was then used for storage until it was sold. It changed hands again about 10 years ago, which is around the time it was restored.
Thomas and Johannah O’Brien’s seven children attended the school during the early 1900s.
It’s not quite clear when they bought Warrawee – a 40 acre lot that stands across the road from the school - but it was sometime before 1901. History records show their son Leo was born there.
The house originally had 10 rooms and an outdoor kitchen. It still boats much of its original character, while offering modern conveniences.
Both buildings came at a time when the supply of red cedar in the area had been exhausted and large land grants were being carved Millers Forest, Duckenfield, Berry Park, Woodberry and Osterley for farming.
Their future could include being part of the Air BnB or Farm Stay movement, or the school could be come a functions centre.
“There are so many ways the two properties can operate in conjunction with each other,” Hunter River Realty Group director Chris Henry said. “This is a rare and unique opportunity.”