Located at 25 Byron Road, Guildford, “Linnwood” is a historic property set on five hectares of grounds from the former Orchardleigh Estate in Guildford. It was built in 1891 as the country house of George and Susan McCredie who became prominent figures in the local community and the history of Guildford.
George McCredie was a consulting engineer in the firm A.L. and G. McCredie; which he stablished alongside his brother Arthur who was an architect. George also was passionate for Architecture and much of this work can be seen at Linnwood. George also served as Alderman and Mayor of the former Prospect & Sherwood Council (now Cumberland) and entered State politics as Magistrate and Member of the New south Wales Legislative Assembly for Central Cumberland.
In 1900 as Magistrate, McCredie supervised the cleansing operations at The Rocks after an outbreak of the Bubonic Plague in this locale.
The McCredie family were active members of the Presbyterian Church and donated land for the establishment of the McCredie Church, Guildford along with 10 acres of land to become McCredie Park at Guildford.
Unfortunately, George McCredie died in 1903 aged 45, leaving Susan with eight children; they remained at Linnwood until 1917.
The McCredie also developed the neighbouring suburb of Yennora including the railway station which opened in 1927. The house itself is regarded as a good representative example of a Victorian Italianate villa with much original fabric and detailing still intact.
The historic and aesthetic significance of the site is enhanced by its retention of some of the original landscaped grounds which provide an attractive and historically appropriate setting for the main residence.
The Linnwood Hall and grounds were leased by the Department of Education in 1917, here the first and only Truant School for boys in NSW was stablished from 1917 to 1936. They purchased 11 acres of land in 1921 and remanent land in 1930.
The site was gradually being also used as a residential girl’s school for State Wards from 1966 and in 1976 the department opened the Faulds House as a Home Science Special Training School for girls from deprived backgrounds.
The property became surplus to the needs of the NSW Government after this and was due to be sold in 2002 until a successful campaign by the newly formed Friends of Linnwood halted the sale.
Linnwood was listed on the State Heritage Register in 2003 and is now under the trusteeship of Cumberland Council but managed by The Friends of Linnwood and is home to the Holroyd Local Historic Research Group. For more information see The Friends of Linnwood website.
