Year-in-Review-2021-22 - Flipbook - Page 49
Did you know?
Sydney Local Health
District upgraded the
pathways and the
foreshore trail on the
eastern side of the
Yaralla Estate for the
community to enjoy.
Rivendell Estate
Did you know?
The name Rivendell comes
from The Hobbit – a novel by
J.R.R. Tolkein – in which
Rivendell is a place to rest and
recuperate – a sanctuary for
those on difficult journeys.
Year in Review 2021–22
Rivendell is considered one of
Sydney’s best kept secrets.
Unknown Patient” published in
The Bulletin.
It is a rare, unchanged example
of a late 19th century institutional
complex built in one major phase.
It was built on the Walker Estates
on the foreshores of Sydney
Harbour and the Parramatta River.
The only other surviving example
is Callan Park.
Over 70,000 patients convalesced
at the hospital, including
servicemen from the 1914-18 and
1939-45 World Wars.
Thomas Walker bequeathed
£100,000 to build a convalescent
home at Rivendell, on the banks of
the Parramatta River. The building,
designed by John Sulman, was
commissioned following Thomas
Walker’s death in 1886. A further
£50,000 was provided by his
daughter Eadith, sister Joanna and
Eadith’s companion, Anne Sulman
(nee Masefield).
It is considered to be John
Sulman’s finest work in Australia.
The building was opened in 1893
as a free convalescent hospital.
Patients were referred by many
Sydney hospitals including St
Vincents, Royal Prince Alfred
and Sydney hospitals. In the first
year of operation, 608 patients
were admitted. The poet Henry
Lawson was at one time a patient
and penned a poem entitled “The
In 1894, the Joanna Walker
Memorial Children’s Convalescent
Hospital was opened in a separate
building in the grounds. It was also
designed by John Sulman. It was
built around a central glassedin courtyard featuring a Doulton
fountain in the centre. A feature
of the building are the leadlight
panels enscribed with eight verses.
The other significant buildings
on the estate are the Land Gate
House and the Water Gate House.
Until 1979, the hospital was
administered by the Perpetual
Trustee Company but funds were
dwindling and provision of a
free convalescent hospital was
no longer feasible. The hospital
was transferred to Sydney Local
Health District. It is now home
to the Rivendell Adolescent Unit
including Rivendell School.
In 1999, the buildings underwent
extensive restoration.
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