Could anyone please tell me what "Bidura" in Glebe was all about? I am very interested in the 1945-1946 period, perhaps the children therein and if there are old photos of during that time ; more so the front of the building? Kindest regards; Robert KEMSLEY

Dear Robert, The NSW Archives has lots to say about Bidura in Glebe Point Rd. http://tinyurl.com/yhgt6b It has this to say about your time frame:................... By 1939 Bidura housed boys up to 6 years of age and girls up to 18 years, with an attached school operated by a governess. From 1945 appointments from other Institutions were made, and in 1954 the appointment of an Education Officer allowed the commencement of twice weekly evening classes............. Bidura operated as a receiving home where children were temporarily accommodated awaiting placement in foster homes or awaiting transfer to other establishments - in transit from foster homes to hospitals or other foster homes......... Historical Building note: It would seem that Bidura House in its garden setting, is the most intact early villa along Glebe Point Road. The house was designed, built, and occupied, by Edmund Blacket in 1858. The ballroom was added in the 1880´s Bidura historically seems to fall within the Leichhardt Municipality. Therefore the Leichhardt Library and Information Service is likely to have quite a reasonable collection of old photos. The Council's historic houses page is here: http://www.lmc.nsw.gov.au/libraries/07/1041822538_26177.html and also it's e-mail contact The overall development proposal for the area seems to fall under the City of Sydney administration. http://tinyurl.com/yajfle This page says.......................... Bidura House in its garden setting, is the most intact early villa along Glebe Point Road. The house was designed, built, and occupied, by Edmund Blacket in 1858. The ballroom was added in the 1880´s. The domestic character of Bidura and its garden should be retained and reused for residential or commercial offices, or a boutique hotel. A public or quasi-public use which allows the public enjoyment particularly of the front garden, would be desirable. In 1980 a large multi-levelled Remand Centre was built at the rear of the house. Its siting behind street frontages and its stepped form minimises its bulk and visibility from the surrounding streets. The Remand Centre is now obsolete. Being a substantial structure in good condition, it lends itself to adaptive reuse, such as for residential or commercial purposes, or a conference or educational centre. A picture of the house is here: http://tinyurl.com/ydwxyy as well as it's longtime resident ... the cat and here too: http://www.glebesociety.org.au/AboutTGSI/Heritage/Heritage.htm For more images go to: http://images.google.com.au/images?hl=en&q=bidura&btnG=Search+Images or http://tinyurl.com/ydngrx I think I can reasonably assume that details/records of children at Bidura circa 1945-46 will be an absolute no-no without court orders approving same. Cheers, Tony Moore (Balgo, Western Australia) @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ On 11 Nov 2006 at 21:30, KEMSLEY, Robert N. G. wrote: From: "KEMSLEY, Robert N. G." <rkemsley@idl.net.au> To: <aus-nsw-sydney@rootsweb.com> Date sent: Sat, 11 Nov 2006 21:30:41 +1100 Subject: Re: [ANS] "Bidura", Pint Road, Glebe Send reply to: aus-nsw-sydney@rootsweb.com > Could anyone please tell me what "Bidura" in Glebe was all about? > > I am very interested in the 1945-1946 period, perhaps the children > therein and if there are old photos of during that time ; more so the front > of the building? > > Kindest regards; > Robert KEMSLEY >