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Have a question? Contact St Matthews/Wiseman House Archive
Sawbridgeworth, 32 Widford Street Glenroy, was built in 1887 by Arthur Wiseman to help promote the sale of land in Glenroy. It was St. Agnes Church of England Girls Home 1922 to 1964. Now called 'Wiseman House' it has been part of the property of St. Matthew's Anglican Church since 1965.
Black and white photograph of Sawbridgeworth
Copied with permission
Lambie Cottage was an addition to St. Agnes Girls' Home, providing more modern accommodation.
Development of St Agnes Girls' Home to accommodate additional children in a more modern setting.
A b&w photograph of large room with single beds lined up along each wall, bathroom at the end of the room, timber floor.
Copied with permission
St. Agnes Girls' Home was based at "Sawbridgeworth" from 1923 to 1965.
A rare photograph showing daily use of the building by residents.
Girls seated at long tables in a large room having a meal. An adult woman sits at the head of each table.
Copied with permission
Refer to booklet "Wiseman House (Sawbridgeworth)" (Item 0004) for further information on St. Agnes Girls Home. Includes letters and memoirs by residents of St. Agnes Girls Home.
Portrays a significant period of use for Sawbridgeworth/Wiseman House as a girls' home.
Sepia coloured photograph of girls in uniform, younger ones sitting at the front and older girls standing. Positioned in a garden setting.
Copied with permission
B&W photograph from play "Who Lies there" dated 23 June 1956. Actors are Gordon Downs, Inez Rayner, Norm Richie, Barbara Barrett, Jacqui Sommers, Don Barrett, Nance Downs, May Sommers, Bert Housden and Louise Rendle.
B&W photograph from the play "Quiet Weekend" dated 25 August 1956. Actors are May Sommers, Bert Housden, Don Barrett and Nance Downs.
Issued for a ball that would have been held in the ballroom at Sawbridgeworth.
B&W photograph of front cover and inside page with list of dances.
Sawbridgeworth c.1895
Copy image of house with entry path and garden.
Copied with permission
This is one of the two Wiseman brothers' homes built in Widford Street in 1887. They were named Ashleigh and Sawbridgeworth and were similar. When the Wisemans became bankrupt, with the collapse of the land boom in the 1890s, the houses remained in the estate and were tenanted. At the close of the first world war, both were taken over by the Army as hospitals. This photo is of Ashleigh which became Infectious Diseases Hospital No. 5. Sawbridgeworth was the staff hospital. The photo was taken in 1919. This house was later bought by Thomas Shaw Logan, the well-known auctioneer. On his death, the house was demolished and the property subdivided. The other house, Sawbridgeworth, was bought by the MIssion of St James and St John and then became St. Agnes Girls Home from 1925 until 1963. It was then bought by St. Matthews and is now known as Wiseman House.
Black and white photograph (2 copies) of house with hospital flag and people outside.
B&W photograph of Ashleigh, with Sawbridgeworth in the background. The two Wiseman homes "Ashleigh" (Albert Wiseman) and "Sawbridgeworth" (Arthur Wiseman) were used as Army hospitals during World War 1. The houses were built in 1887 and were mirror images of each other.
B&W copy photograph of Ashleigh, with Sawbridgeworth in the background.
The history of St. Matthews Church until 1965.
A5 printed booklet of 26 pages, written by Bert Housden
Origins and history of this heritage house and of the Wiseman family who were the builders and owners. Subsequent use of the building is also included.
Printed booklet produced by Bev Lacock and Ian Keeble in May 2003, revised in June 2008.
Sawbridgeworth (now known as Wiseman House) was built in 1887 by Arthur Wiseman.
Black and white copy photograph
Sawbridgeworth was built in 1887 by Arthur Wiseman. The house was named after the little English village in Hertfordshire where the Wisemans had lived for hundreds of years. Arthur's brother, Albert, built his mansion, called Ashleigh, which also fronted Widford Street. Wiseman House is located alongside St. Matthew's Anglican Church.
Wiseman House is an important building in Glenroy's and St. Matthew's history.
Black & white photograph of front facade of Sawbridgeworth House with people in a horse and buggy.
Copied with permission
wiseman, st. matthew's
Victorian Collections acknowledges the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first inhabitants of the nation and the traditional custodians of the lands where we live, learn and work.
