Opened on 21st September 1893 what is now Rivendell School was originally the Thomas Walker Convalescent Hospital. Built from money from Walker’s will, the hospital treated over 70,000 patients convalesced at the hospital, including servicemen from the 1914-18 and 1939-45 World Wars. In 1977, the hospital was transformed into a specialized educational institution for students with mental health concerns and was renamed Rivendell School. The name reflects Rivendell From J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit as a place to rest and recuperate – a sanctuary for those on difficult journeys.
Designed by John Sulman the brick and sandstone buildings are of the Federation Free Classical style and were.
Current Use
Located in West Concord on Sydney’s Parramatta River, Rivendell School is a specialized educational facility located in Sydney, Australia. It caters to students who have mental health concerns or psychiatric conditions, providing a supportive and comprehensive learning environment. The school focuses on fostering wellness, resilience, and academic achievement for its students. With a team of dedicated professionals, Rivendell School offers tailored programs to meet the unique needs of each student, ensuring they receive the necessary support to thrive academically and personally.
Getting To Rivendell School
We travelled by train to Rhodes Train Station and then walked to the school. On the way we looked at the Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway and the Brays Bay Ship-Building Memorial. Bus 410 runs from the station to near the school, so you can take this instead. If travelling by car, parking is difficult to find because of the other hospitals in the area. The best option would be to park in the Kokoda Parking area.
The Grounds and Buildings
Walking around the landscaped grounds, is very relaxing as you would expect from the building’s original purpose. Make sure to look at the inside of the entrance gate as there are many sandstone carvings on the walls. The sandstone carvings are perfectly preserved, with the columns on the upper balcony of the main building looking magnificent.
Directly opposite the main entrance, on the Parramatta River, an old water gate was the preferred entrance when the school was used as a hospital. Although this is no longer in use. This is a great building in its own right and unique in Australia.
Rivendell School Entrance GateLandscaped entry drivewayStone carving above the front entranceStone carving inside the front entranceCarving on the entranceThe main buildingFront door entranceSandstone carving around the clockCaryatid columns on the upper balconyWalkway to the disused ferry wharfDisused ferry wharf
The walk from Manly to North Head takes you past some beautiful beaches with views over the coast, through coastal scrub and passes old fortifications. Finally ending at the entrance to Sydney Harbour, it has spectacular views of the city.
Getting There
The easiest way to get to Manly is to take the Manly ferry from Circular Quay. If you’re new to Sydney, this is an attraction in itself, because the Sydney Harbour ferries form an important part of the local public transport. During the ferry ride, you get some brilliant views of the Opera House and Harbor Bridge as well as all the other boat traffic on the water.
Manly Ferry CollaroyOpera House From the Manly Ferry
Start of the Walk
Catching the Manly Ferry from Circular Quay, we arrived at Manly Wharf at 9:30 am. We planned our walk to take us along the shore to Shelly Beach where we would follow a track to the Barracks Precinct. Not only would this give us views over the coast but take us past some old fortifications and gun emplacements.
From the Manly wharf, we walked down The Corso, which is a pedestrian mall leading to the beach.
Manly Beach
One of the most popular Sydney beaches, Manly Beach is a great place for a swim or relaxing on the sand. We bought a coffee at a kiosk near the south end of the beach before starting the walk.
Manly Beach
Manly to Shelly Beach
Starting at the south end of Manly Beach, the path follows the coastline, which is rocky until you reach Shelly Beach. There are plenty of places with places to look up and down the coast and back to Manly, giving you some amazing views.
Along the way look out for small metal sculptures of local wildlife. These have been placed on the rocks next to the path.
About halfway to Shelly Beach, Fairy Bower Pool is a protected ocean pool where you can swim. The pool is also decorated with a sculpture of two fairies.
Fairy Bower Sea PoolFairy StatuesSculpture of an octopus near Shelly BeachSculpture of an bandicoot near Shelly BeachFairey Penguin Sculpture near Shelly Beach
Shelly Beach
Shelly Beach is a secluded and serene crescent-shaped beach surrounded by nice shady trees. As well as a grassed area to relax on it has a kiosk where you can buy refreshments before continuing the walk.
From Shelly Beach, the track goes uphill to head along the cliffs to the south.
Shelly Beach
Shelly Headland Lookout
Perched on a rocky outcrop overlooking the ocean, this Shelly Headland Lookout provides an ideal spot for photographers because of the wonderful views along the coast. During the whale migration season, it’s also an ideal point to watch them swimming past.
Coastal view looking north back to Manly
Shelly Beach to the Barracks Precinct
After the flat walk from Manly the track becomes rougher and steeper. From here the track climbs uphill to reach the cliff tops. Winding through the coastal vegetation, it is not as busy as the first section because it is a more difficult walk. We loved this section, as the walk through the bush was much more peaceful.
At the top of the cliffs, old fortifications dating from the Second World War and earlier can be seen. The track even goes through one of the old walls built to defend the area.
The track south of Shelly BeachOld fortification wall at North Head
Barracks Precinct
The Barracks Precinct at North Head is a historically significant site that served as a military base from the mid-19th century to the mid-20th century. It played a crucial role in the defence of Sydney Harbor and housed various military units over the years.
The Barracks Precinct has well-preserved sandstone buildings, which showcase the architectural style of the time. It includes several barracks, officers’ quarters, mess halls, and maintenance buildings. These structures provide a glimpse into the daily lives of soldiers stationed at North Head.
Today, the Barracks Precinct has been repurposed as a heritage site and is open to the public for exploration. Visitors can wander through the historic buildings, learn about the site’s military history through information boards which are dotted around the area.
In this area and continuing to North Head, the walking tracks are generally well paved and often consists of boardwalks or paved roads. When we visited, the banksias were in flower adding a touch of colour to the walk.
Main barracks building and parade groundBanksia in flowerBanksia in Flower
Fortifications
Many of the original fortifications were dismantled and the guns sold for scrap when they were no longer needed. Fortunately, some are still in place so that visitors can see them. Several large gun emplacements are open to the public, but when we visited others were being repaired.
A great way to get a feel for the area’s past is to take the underground tunnels tour. We did this several years ago and highly recommend it. You walk through the tunnels and underground sections of the fortifications as well as getting into areas the general public cannot access.
Old FortificationsOld Fortification undergoing restoration9.2 Inch Gun
Memorial Walk
Winding through the coastal vegetation, the Memorial Walk commemorates Australia’s military heritage. Not only are there great sandstone memorials but the path is inlaid with bricks commemorating individuals or military units.
Memorial WalkMemorial for Australian Peacekeeping Operations
Fairfax Lookout
The end of our walk took us to Fairfax Lookout with its stunning views of Sydney and Sydney Harbour. The site was named after Sir James Fairfax, a prominent Australian businessman and philanthropist.
View of Sydney and the Harbour from Fairfax Lookout
Other Places to See in North Head
If you have time, Q Station, the old Sydney Quarantine Station is worth a visit. We did a guided tour here some time ago, which took us through the history of the site and most of its buildings. The old quarantine station cemetery is also a great place to see.
Getting Back
After finishing our walk, we decided to catch the bus back to the wharf as it stops right outside. Alternatively, you could walk back via Q Station. We had an excellent tour there a few years ago and highly recommend a visit.
Located partially beneath the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Bradfield Park is a publicly accessible park in North Sydney which provides magnificent vistas of the harbor, Circular Quay, and the Sydney Opera House. The park, named in honor of John Bradfield, the renowned engineer responsible for the bridge’s design, encompasses a playground, picnic facilities, a paved area under the bridge, and a direct pathway leading to the Olympic Pool and Luna Park complex.
Bradfield Park History
Originally conceived as a garden suburb in 1924, the plans for the area took a different turn in 1940 when it was designated as a Royal Australian Air Force station. Throughout World War II, this station served as a training ground for over 200,000 members of the RAAF and the WAAAF. Today, the once military station has transformed into the breathtaking Bradfield Park. This picturesque public space is conveniently accessible by public transportation, located just a short stroll away from Milsons Point railway station and Kirribilli shops.
What to See
Walking to the park from the train station, we noticed this amazing looking door on a house along the way.
Ornamental door on a house near Bradfield Park
Eastern Side
Entering the park, one of the initial sights that strikes you is a peculiar steel sculpture. Presented by the Swiss Government and the Swiss Australian Community in commemoration of the 2000 Sydney Olympics, this remarkable work of art is crafted using components salvaged from an antiquated train, along with rivets sourced from a Swiss bridge and discarded industrial steel.
The Australian Angel
The foreshore of Bradfield Park is a fantastic spot for taking photos. You can capture many great landmarks and even use the weather shelters to get a unique perspective of the Sydney Opera House across the shore.
Sydney Opera House From Milsons Point
Of course, the dominant feature in the area is the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Walking through the park will take you past the buttress towers and under the train roadway. From here you get a completely different view of the bridge than when driving over it. You can see the structure and engineering that has gone into its design and the huge amount of steel needed to build it.
Under Sydney Harbour Bridge
Underside of the Sydney Harbour Bridge
Located under the bridge and forming part of the foreshore is the bow of the first HMAS Sydney which served in World War One.
The Bow of HMAS Sydney (I)
Western Side
Originally situated at the intersection of Berry and Miller Street in North Sydney, ‘Harbour Cycles’ by Richard Byrnes has now found its new home in the western section of Bradfield Park. Made from aluminium, this impressive creation showcases various elements such as the iconic struts of the Harbour Bridge, maritime machinery, and local architectural designs.
Harbour Cycles by Richard Byrnes
Entrance to Milsons Point Station under the Sydney Harbour Bridge
The history of the area is explained with a series of information boards. These are great because most people would be unaware of the area’s history.
Information Board
Sitting atop the Broomfield Memorial Drinking Fountain in Bradfield Park, this bronze fox terrier was crafted in honor of the 75th anniversary of the Harbour Bridge. The fountain serves as a tribute to Jessie Broomfield, a generous benefactor who left funds for the well-being of Sydney’s dogs and specifically requested the installation of trough-equipped fountains in public parks for our furry companions to quench their thirst. Positioned at the northernmost section of the park, adjacent to Lavender Street, the fountain stands as a testament to Broomfield’s philanthropic legacy.
Statue of a fox terrier atop a drinking fountain, with drinking troughs for dogs
To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.
