GLENMORE RD, PADDINGTON

Walkabout

with Ruth Glenmore Rd, Paddington

Source: Woollahra Council Photos: Ruth Kliman

In this Ed 46, I head down Glenmore Rd, Paddington.

I begin my walk on Glenmore Rd at White City Tennis Courts. The historic White City Tennis Centre is the former home of tennis in NSW and had been since its opening in 1922. The venue has played host to many events including the Australian Open, Davis Cup, and the New South Wales Open. NSW Tennis has since moved to the Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre. The site was purchased by Maccabi-Hakoah in 2011. There are plans to build a large community centre, including tennis courts, although development has been slowed by drawn out disputes over the plans. It was announced in late 2021 that building would commence soon.

Where Gurner St and Glenmore Rd meet is St George’s Church which has been sharing the love of Christ since 1889 when part of the present building was opened. The church was completed in 1897 by which time a wooden church hall, separate from the church, had been erected on the site of the present rectory. In 1977 the church building was divided, with the northern half forming the church, and the other half the church hall, now known as the Eve Cohen Hall. Two old wooden church halls were demolished and in 1978 a new rectory, with parish offices, was built on the site. In the 1970s and 80s the Parish was significant in the creation of the Movement for the Ordination of Women (MOW) in NSW and the Australian spirituality movement Eremos.

I walk further along Glenmore Rd until I get to Glenmore Rd Public School, which was designed by architects Blackmann & Varney and built in an Italianate style in 1883 to relieve pressure on Paddington Public School in Oxford St.

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family. It started around 1915, was rebuilt in 1929 but closed in 1959, operating for a short time as a country music entertainment centre. Its original use was to serve as an entrance to the Deep Dene estate, a large house of Mr W. G. McCarthy, solicitor, on a four acre property running down to Glen St.

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Five Ways Picture Palace

Walking down to 182-190 Glenmore Rd, two unit blocks also have a history. 'Glen Ayr' built around 1860 was the home of Sir Matthew Henry Stephen, Judge of the Supreme Court. From 1905 to 1912, it housed the Collegiate High School, a boarding and day school for girls under the management of the (Anglican) Sisters of the Church, school buildings for which were transferred from a previous location in Waverley. The property was subdivided in October 1912 and unit blocks were built.

At 186 Glenmore Rd on the footpath is a plaque dedicated to Jeffery Freeman, who lived there. He is recognised as one of Australia's foremost Australian Speedcar champions and was inducted into the Australian Speedway Hall of Fame in 2008. On Mar 6, 1965, Jeffery Freeman attained Australian championship status as a speedcar driver, two months before the

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sport claimed his life at the Westmead Speedway, Parramatta.

Across the road is a The Royal Hospital for Women Park which opened April 9, 2005, the park takes it name from the Royal Hospital for Women which stood on the site and surrounding land between 1901 and 1997.

Close by is Five Ways, where there is a distinct village atmosphere, with people buzzing around the numerous cafes. The most prominent building at Five Ways is the Royal Hotel, which was built in 1888, it is the only hotel in Paddington with overhanging 'iron lace' balconies'. The Royal boasts four fabulous levels: Home of sports, The Elephant Bar, A sunny balcony and the beloved rooftop.

Remnants of the foundations of The Royal Hospital for Women building

Artist Mikala Dwyer created an interactive sculpture referencing the idea of motherhood and fertility. Egg Swing commemorates the history of the site of the old Royal Hospital for Women Hospital and invites the public to engage with the sculpture by swinging in the pink and red womb-like structure.

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I complete by walk heading to the end of Glenmore Rd and Oxford St to The Intersection which is a strip of boutiques of Australian fashion designers.

In ESL Nov Ed 47 join me for a walk down Queen St, Woollahra

GUIDING & TEACHING TAROT

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Lucky Gemstone: Garnet Lucky Number: 9 Lucky Colour: Red or Maroon

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