“Essington” was built for William Fullagar (1816-1894), a successful 19th Century businessman and district pioneer, it was as a more upmarket residence to crown his successful career.
William Fullagar was son of convicts who made his money by establishing two businesses in the 1840s – livestock saleyards, located on the Great Western Hwy on the border of what are now the suburbs of Wentworthville and Pendle Hill and the Starr Inn, adjacent. With the profits of his two businesses, he began buying land around the Parramatta district between 1849-66, most notably in what are now Wentworthville, South Wentworthville and Westmead. The plan of the Enviros of Parramatta, show the different parcels that William Fullagar acquired during. Fullagar Road in Westmead is named after him.
Portions of land acquired by William Fullagar were subdivided in different stages. On 9th February 1895 the first subdivision of the Fullagar estate was released, covering the land that had formerly been known as Fullagar’s Paddock which included his old home, Willow Cottage although this was retained by the family with some of the land. The Fullagar Estate was bordered by what are now Hilltop Rd and Coleman St as well as the Western Rd (Great Western Hwy) and a neighbouring property which was then Finlayson’s Paddock.
He married twice and had 16 children. Fullagar became actively involved in the local community in his later years and was a keen member of the local hunting fraternity. He was among the petitioners for the creation of Prospect & Sherwood Council (now Cumberland) in 1872 and ran (unsuccessfully) as an Alderman for Council.
His first home, called “The Wattles”, was built opposite the future site of “Essington” which was then public land that formed part of the Parramatta Domain. In 1859 the NSW Colonial Government began selling off portions of the Domain and Fullagar bought several large lots of the “Western Meadow”, (Westmead) subdivision as shown in the first map.
“Essington” was built c1860-70s in Late Victorian style and the NSW State Heritage Register listing describes it as a good example of a Victorian “Gentleman’s residence” with "Italianate" and "Gothic" elements. The walls were constructed using polychrome brick and it has a slate roof. The fabric of the original house has been changed because of later additions and alterations and to suit the current use as an educational institution.
Essington was retained by Fullagar descendants after his death in 1894 and was sold c.1912. The house became a doctor’s surgery in the late 1950’s. It was used by the Foursquare Gospel Church since 1976. They purchased Essington in 1980 to establish the Westmead Christian Grammar School which has recently celebrated its 40th anniversary on this site.
“Essington” is listed on the NSW State Heritage Register.
