TAMWORTH’S Calrossy Anglican School is celebrating a generous and unique donation.
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Antique furniture was yesterday donated back to the school by family members of the man, John Patterson, who originally built Calrossy House in the late 1800s.
The furniture, including a chaise lounge, two arm chairs, a complete dining suite and two side tables was, until yesterday in the care of Alan Patterson – John Patterson’s grandson – and is estimated to be worth $30,000.
Mr Patterson said yesterday the reason for donating the items back to the school was two-fold.
“We wanted to ensure their historical value was enhanced and they were going to be cared for in a place that ensures they were well looked after,” he said.
The items donated yesterday were pieces from the original homestead and were passed on first to Alan’s father and then onto him.
School principal Elisabeth Jackson said the donation was both generous and significant.
“We are all delighted and looking forward to caring for these items and preserving them for future generations,” she said. Calrossy Anglican School was originally called the Tamworth Church of England Girls’ School and opened in Carthage St as the parish school for St John’s Anglican Church.
As the school grew a need for more land arose and in 1932 the school as it is now known moved to its address in Brisbane St.
John Patterson originally owned the land and had built “Calrossy House” as his private home in 1878, it was “Calrossy” after his family property in Scotland.
In 1969, a number of years after the school began to grow on the Brisbane St site the school adopted the name “Calrossy”.
The donated pieces will be housed in Calrossy House, which is now the school’s main building and houses its administration staff.
They will join other items left by the Patterson family when the school purchased the land in the 1930s.
Mrs Jackson said in donating the items Mr Patterson had hoped they would be loved.
“For the school having such items is about preserving the history of the house and celebrating where we’ve come from,” she said.