If you have at anytime a connection with the "William Thompson Masonic School" at Baulkham Hills; now called the Balcombe Heights Estate, that wonderful Masonic establishment that cared for children of Masons in their time of need.
You are invited to attend a special Centenary of Armistice Sunday, for a dedication and commemorative service at the Soldiers Memorial, 4th November 2018.
Please come and bring your family and friends, 10:30 AM arrive for a 11:00 AM start of the ceremony.
Dress: Lounge suit/smart casual [Regalia to be worn].
Entrance: 90-94 Seven Hills Road, Baulkham Hills NSW 2153
Morning tea will be provided.
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William Thompson Masonic School - Balcombe Heights Estate
"Long before the idea was conceived of establishing a school for orphans or other children in need, the Lodge members of the Freemasons had established a charity devoted to those children. In 1918, William Thompson thought that the wide open spaces and rolling landscape of Baulkham Hills would be a good location to establish homes for children who had been orphaned or left in poor circumstances following World War I. The project was funded by the Masons.
"On 11 November, 1922, (Armistice Day) the William Thompson Masonic School was opened. Fifty 'motor buses' helped transport 12,000 Masons and friends to the opening of the school.
"During World War II the children were moved into the countryside and the buildings became the 103rd Australian General Hospital. The school reopened on November, 8, 1947 as the Masonic School and functioned as such until the 1970s. In December 1973 Council signed a contract to pay for the property over 3 years with the final payment being made in 1977.
"Several of the original school buildings still exist including the dormitory buildings, classrooms, gymnasium, staff cottages and the Georgian Revival style central administration block. The main hall building was lost to fire and has now been replaced with a modern community hall suitable for hire.
"Other historic elements such as the memorial tree avenue of Brush box (planted in memory of soldiers lost in the World War I), sundial, fishpond and memorial garden compliment the properties heritage. Today many of the buildings are hired by community groups."--------------------------
William Thompson (22 January 1862 – 6 October 1937) was an Australian politician.
He was born in Queanbeyan to surveyor James Banford Thompson and Margaret Carroll. From 1878 to 1885 he was a clerk in the Colonial Architect's office, before becoming a quantity surveyor and moving to Ryde in 1898. On 4 March 1885 he had married Florence Single, with whom he had two children.
He owned a horse farm on the Hawkesbury River and was a founder of the William Thompson Masonic School at Baulkham Hills NSW, which operated from 1922 to 1972, and the New South Wales Masonic Schools Welfare Fund which, as A Start in Life, continues to assist indigent youth. He was a Freemason and Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of New South Wales 1914-1924.[1]
In 1913 he was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly as the Liberal member for Ryde, serving until his retirement in 1920. Thompson died at Ashfield in 1937. [Wikipedia]
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