Picture this. You are standing before Harrisford House. A grand old building. It whispers tales of Parramatta’s past. Harrisford House stands proudly at 182 George Street. It’s a heritage-listed gem. Built between 1823 and 1829 it has witnessed centuries of history.
Originally a private residence it served as the first home of The King’s School. Australia’s oldest independent school. Imagine the young scholars walking these halls. The echoes of their lessons still linger. The school occupied Harrisford from 1832 to 1836. It was one of only four schools in the colony offering a higher education.
After the school’s departure William Woolls established his own school here. Woolls a former King’s School staff member. His school thrived. It even earned commendation from Governor Sir George Gipps. One of his pupils Walter Campbell later became NSW Director of Agriculture. He wrote fondly of his time at Harrisford describing idyllic days of fishing and picnics. The school continued until 1864.
Later Harrisford saw various uses. It was a peanut butter factory. A stationery shop. Even a car workshop. John Harris a nephew of Dr John Harris of Harris Park owned it. He Victorianized the house and gave it its name.
The King’s School Old Boys Union restored Harrisford in 1980. They painstakingly returned it to its 1830s appearance. Today it stands as a testament to Parramatta’s rich history. A two-storey Old Colonial Georgian house with Flemish bond brick walls. A reminder of the past. A beautiful reminder of the past. A place where history lives. Harrisford House.