Greetings To All,
And welcome to In Private!
Originally the Masonic Hospital and now The Sydney Private Hospital, this bastion of health and architectural fusion opened its doors on the 13th June 1931 and was originally devised as a private centre for the care and respite of the Masonic brothers in need of aid, since there was no dedicated establishment as such for them to utilise.
The "Fernlea" residence of one John Jamieson existed at this site prior, from 1882 to 1888; he having purchased the land upon its subdivision from the original nine-acre block purchased by the Reverend John Graham, of the Pitt Street Congregational Church, in 1870, upon part of which the latter had built the "Mountjoy" house and which was known as the "Mountjoy" Estate, replete with the main brick house consisting of nine rooms, a detached building of four rooms, stables and a garage.
"Fernlea" was subsequently acquired by the Presbyterian Church so to then establish the Presbyterian Ladies College. Later, in 1919, the Department Of Health then purchased the residence wherefore it became the Fernleigh Rest Home & Maternity Hospital.
Eventually, the United Grand Lodge of NSW were sold the land and demolished the house, so to make way for their conception. Devised as a proponent of the Inter-War Free Classical-style of architecture by the Masonic "Grand Architect", Brother F.E. Stowe, which revels in a fusing together of multiple styles, such as American Spanish Mission, Californian Bungalow, Art Deco, Italian Mediterranean and Georgian Revival, to name at least several, these aforementioned styles of architectures are typified by a multitude of features, some including: hipped roofs, double/triple-fronted asymmetrical forms, rendered walls that were either rough-cast or parged, Baroque parapets, double-hung windows (commonly with twelve panes), restrained Classical/Adamesque detailing (often of precast concrete), stuccoed walls, keystones, lush gardens and sleek and stylised façades.
The foundation stone for the Masonic Hospital was laid by the Grand Master, Most Worshipful, Brother Aubrey Halloran on the 11th October 1930. Newspapers, at the time of its opening, estimated the cost of construction to be approximately £60,000.
You are looking for a micro hidden along the wall outside The Sydney Private Hospital, with room for a log only, so please bring your own pen. Geo-tweezers may be of assistance with extracting the log. There is no need to access the hospital grounds to attempt this cache, you shall be able to locate this from the pedestrian footpath. Plentiful parking abounds on the streets around. Please ensure to return the cache exactly as found.
All the very best and have fun.
Cache on!
Kindest Regards,
- Alephroom.
Source: https://ashfieldhistory.org.au
Source: https://vernegardiner.com.au
Source: https://www.National trust.org.au