Historical: Marryatville High: Eden Park

Into the Nineties: Eden Park
In 1991 after several years of cuts in public spending on education Glen McArthur accepted a position as Principal of Wesley College Victoria. Margaret Lambert, Head of the music school left soon after also to take up a position at Wesley College. In 1992 Ms Kate Castine, undertook the difficult task of following the charismatic founding principal and guiding the school through the Education Department's cutbacks. It was really a case of catering for more with less as the enrolment continued to climb (938).

Eden Park Mansion
In 1993 the school acquired Eden Park mansion, built at the turn of the century by T R Scarfe.

The building was to be used as a much needed Year 12 centre but its run down condition and Heritage status has meant a number of mixed blessings and a permanent place in the list of tasks for the work in weekend.

"Thomas R. Scarfe bought the property in 1899 and built his new house on the site. A fine place it was to celebrate the New Year of a New Century in 1900, Federation in 1901 and the Boer War Peace in 1902. It was of the most modern style and construction and has remained one of the landmarks, although now rather reticent, of this city. The materials and workmanship are of the best and the attention to detail outstanding. Not unexpectedly hardware is of special merit befitting the director of the largest hardware company in the State". Eden park of Marryatville by Daniel Manning Honorary Historian City of Kensington and Norwood. (Undated Council pamphlet)

NEXT: The Ninities