Title

View of the Female Orphan School, near Parramatta, New South Wales. [by Joseph Lycett]

Author

Author not identified

Source

[Not applicable]

Publication date

1825

Type

About the work

Language

English

Country of context

Australia

Full text

View of the Female Orphan School, near Parramatta, New South Wales.

THE FEMALE ORPHAN SCHOOL was originally founded by his Excellency GOVERNOR KING, who, during his continuance in the Colony, bestowed great attention upon the progress of the establishment. The house originally appropriated to the purposes of this benevolent institution, is at SYDNEY, and is now occupied as a School for Male Orphans; which owes its foundation to the late Major-General Macquarie, who zealously devoted himself to every object of charity and benevolence.

The building,of which a View is now given, is pleasantly situated about a mile to the east of the Settlement of PARAMATTA, upon the banks of the river which runs to SYDNEY. The view in front of this erection, comprises the delightful grounds and premises of J.Mac-Arthur, Esq. whose residence is about three-quarters of a mile from the School. From the right it overlooks the town of PARAMATTA, which forms a most pleasing landscape; whilst on the left it commands a view down the river, at a short turn of which VINECOTTAGE, the residence of Hannibal Mac-Arthur, Esq. presents itself, and forms a pleasing object among the other scenery, consisting of the high grounds about the Field of Mars, &c. c. This most useful and excellent Institution is principally supported by the Police Fund at Sydney, and partly by the produce of a large track of land called the Orphan School Farm, situated about four miles to the south of Paramatta, and which was granted in aid of the funds of this establishment.

Within the walls of this Asylum, from eighty to one hundred female children are now constantly protected and sheltered from that state of want and woe which the misfortunes or the crimes of their wretched parents had entailed upon these innocent and helpless orphans.

Instead of' becoming the victims of temptation, these rescued children, besides being provided with food and raiment, are educated in the principles of virtue and religion, and are trained to habits of useful industry. They are taught reading, writing, and arithmetic, and all kinds of plain needle-work; and at a suitable age are instructed so as to be able to assist in washing, cooking, baking, and all other domestic work.

The management of the FEMALE ORPHAN SCHOOL is placed in the hands of a Committee, who pay every possible attention to the morals of the children whilst under their care; and, when at the age of eighteen, they quit the Asylum, their future destination is anxiously consulted by the benevolent guardians of their childhood.

It is one of the most gratifying spectacles which the effects of British colonization have yet exhibited on the territory of Australia, to behold these interesting children, in their neat Sunday dresses, modestly walking hand in hand to church. It is impossible to contemplate such a scene, without being forcibly reminded of that dreadful contrast which must have been the state of many of these orphans, if, destitute of all natural protection, and so many thousand miles distant from the land of their forefathers, and abodes of their kindred, they had not been received into this excellent Institution.

Accompanying text, 1825.