Sarah Redfern High School - A short history
Sarah Redfern High School was established in 1981 as part of the Sarah Redfern complex comprising a high school, primary school and special purpose school and includes combined school and community facilities of a library, gymnasium, hall and playing fields.
The Sarah Redfern complex was built to accommodate local students from the Minto area which included the newly established Minto public housing estate. Prior to the opening of the school students from the Minto area had to attend nearby high schools. Records show:
- that when the school opened in 1981, 168 Year 7 and 8 students that had been attending Leumeah High School in 1980 transferred to their new school Sarah Redfern High School.
- In 1981, Samantha Murphy, a student at the school won the competition to design the school badge and school motto 'Strength through learning'.
- The first Year 12 students completed their Higher School Certificate in 1984.
Over the years, the students of the school have excelled in many areas of school life which have led them into diverse fields as they moved into being adult members of society. Students have gone on to excel in areas of academia (particularly education), creative and performing arts and sport (particularly rugby league).
The school has been recognised for its contribution to education and learning by receiving:
- the NSW Department of Education Director-General Awards for Innovative School Curriculum - 1988
- Student Management System - 2005
- Community of Schools - 2012.
- It also received the Minister for Education Cohesive Community Award in 2006.
The school also is held in high regard in the fields of creative and performing arts, having been state and national winners of Rock Eisteddfod and Winners of the prestigious CHS Univesity Shield Rugby league competition.
The Sarah Redfern Community complex was named after Sarah Redfern. She was born Sarah Wills on 23 April 1796 in Middlesex, England and came to Australia with her mother as a free settler on the same ship as her father who had been transported to Australia as a convict. On 14 April 1811, at the age of 14, she married Dr William Redfern who was a prominent surgeon in Sydney.
They were granted a large lease of land, 320 hectares, called Campbellfield which covers most of the present-day Minto. They lived at Campbellfield House which can still be found on the hill behind Minto Mall.
Dr Redfern and Sarah were prominent local identities who prospered for their vineyards and sheep farms on the Campbellfield estate. They had 2 children; William Lachlan Macquarie Redfern and Joseph Foveaux Redfern. In 1833 during a trip to Edinburgh Dr Redfern passed away. Sarah, who was now 'a considerably wealthy woman' returned to England in 1834 and never returned. She died on the 10th January 1875 at Roke Manor, Hampshire, England.
History of Sarah Redfern High School SRHS Booklet (PDF 3511KB)
Sarah Redfern, 1796-1875, Sarah was born in England on the 23rd April, 1796, the eldest child of Edward Spencer Wills and Sarah Harding. In 1799 the family arrived in New South Wales on the convict transport ship "Hillsborough".
Edward Wills, a convict, was given conditional emancipation in 1803 and a pardon in 1809. He became a successful merchant and shipbuilder with his partner Thomas Reibey.
Sarah was to go to England to finish her education in 1811, but her father's ill health changed these plans - he died in May, 1811 aged 33. Instead she was married to William Redfern on 4th March, 1811.
He had been a surgeon's mate in the British Navy and was convicted for encouraging sailors in the Mutiny of the Nore in 1797. He arrived in the colony in 1801 and was sent to Norfolk Island as surgeon from 1802 to l808. He received a free pardon in 1803 for his work on Norfolk Island and was appointed Assistant Surgeon in Sydney in 1808. He took charge of the new hospital in 1816, conducted a daily outpatient clinic for convict men and has a most extensive private practice being family doctor to many leading families including the Macarthur's and the Macquarie's. His report on conditions on the convict transport ships was a major Australian contribution to public health; Redfern was the first man to receive an Australian Diploma of Medicine, in 1808 and was founder of the Bank of New South Wales and on its first board of directors.
When D'Arcy Wentworth resigned as Principal Surgeon of the colony in 1818, Redfern expected to be appointed to this position. However, Lord Bathurst was against convicts holding positions and therefore refused his appointment. In disgust, Redfern resigned in 1819 to have on his farm at Campbell fields, Minto. Macquarie then appointed him Magistrate to the Airds distinct, but this was also refused in 1820. Redfern was a friend of Macquarie, travelling with him on his tours of the colony in 1810, 1815and 1821.
In 1821 Sarah and their son William Lachlan Macquarie who was born in 1819, accompanied Redfern to England where he presented a petition on behalf of emancipated convicts and their right to own property. The petition was successful. They returned to Sydney in 1824 with their two sons, William and Joseph Foveaux, born in 1823. Redfern brought stud sheep, grapevines and fruit trees home with him for his farm in Minto.
On 13th January, 1824 Sarah wrote to Lord Bathurst pleading for land concessions on her husband's behalf. This letter is reprinted in the Historical Records of Australia, Series 1 Vol. Xl page 203. In it she states a need for more land, however, by 1821 Redfern has received 3.920 acres in Airds the Campbell Fields farm extended from Leumeah to the north of Minto, plus 100 acres near Sydney. The suburb of Redfern was named from this estate.
Redfern went alone to London in 1825 and returned in 1826. He then closed his medical practice return to Campbell fields to develop the vines and fruit trees he had imported in 1824. In November 1827 he was involved in a fight with Robert Howe, editor of the Sydney Gazette, which eventuated in his being fined and bound over to keep the peace. Redfern then took his son William to Scotland to complete his education, leaving Sarah and Joseph at Campbell Fields (1828 census). Joseph died in 1830. Redfern died in Edinburgh in 1833, two days before Sarah arrived in London to join him.
Sarah Redfern married James Alexander III, a merchant in Glasgow on 24th June, 1834. A daughter Sarah was born in 1835.
In January, 1842 the estates of the late Dr Redfern were advertised to be sold by public auction. The sale took place on 12th September. 1842 and included properties at Sydney, Campbell Fields. Cabramatta, Emu Plains, Liverpool. North Geelong, Cox's River and Lachland River, plus stock, it realised, 4.592 pounds. Sarah and her husband then left for Scotland where her son William had married and settled. Their daughter Sarah grew up in Scotland and married there.
Sarah Redfern Alexander died on 18th January, 1875.
References
Australian dictionary of biography, Vol. 2p. 368-37 1
CLU:\E, Frank-Bound of Botany Bay. Syd. A & R. 196-t
Historical records of Australia. series I Vol.XI. p.202
The Oucasts a TV series
'The Outcasts' is an Historical TV Serial by the ABC premiered on channel 2 on May 28, 1961.
The central figure of "The Outcasts" is Dr. William Redfern after whom the Sydney Suburb was named. Dr Redfern was also Governor Macquarie's medical adviser. On March 4 1811, Dr Redfern Married Sarah, daugher of merchant Edward S. Wills. The wedding took place at St. Philip's Church in the City.
