Colonel
Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations.
In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge of ...
Alfred William Warden
VD (26 December 1868 – 6 September 1955) was a prominent
Australian soldier,
military engineer
Military engineering is loosely defined as the art, science, and practice of designing and building military works and maintaining lines of military transport and military communications. Military engineers are also responsible for logistics b ...
and
architect
An architect is a person who plans, designs and oversees the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to provide services in connection with the design of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the buildings that h ...
.
Early life
Warden was born at
Ulladulla, New South Wales
Ulladulla is a coastal town in New South Wales, Australia in the City of Shoalhaven local government area. It is on the Princes Highway about south of Sydney, halfway between Batemans Bay to the south and Nowra to the north. Ulladulla has close ...
and was educated at
Newington College
, motto_translation = To Faith Add Knowledge
, location = Inner West and Lower North Shore of Sydney, New South Wales
, country = Australia
, coordinates =
, pushpin_map = A ...
,
Sydney
Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...
, (1884–1887). In his final year of school he was in the first teams in
Rugby union
Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In its m ...
,
cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of eleven players on a field at the centre of which is a pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two bails balanced on three stumps. The batting side scores runs by striki ...
and
rifle-shooting. He was one of ten brothers and cousins from the
South Coast of New South Wales to attend Newington over two decades. His brother,
Winter Warden (1860 – 1936), was a
politician
A politician is a person active in party politics, or a person holding or seeking an elected office in government. Politicians propose, support, reject and create laws that govern the land and by an extension of its people. Broadly speaking, a ...
and a member of the
New South Wales Legislative Council
The New South Wales Legislative Council, often referred to as the upper house, is one of the two chambers of the parliament of the Australian state of New South Wales. The other is the Legislative Assembly. Both sit at Parliament House in th ...
for the
Nationalist Party of Australia
The Nationalist Party, also known as the National Party, was an Australian political party. It was formed on 17 February 1917 from a merger between the Commonwealth Liberal Party and the National Labor Party, the latter formed by Prime Mini ...
for 17 years.
Architectural career
On leaving Newington, Warden was
articled
Apprenticeship is a system for training a new generation of practitioners of a trade or profession with on-the-job training and often some accompanying study (classroom work and reading). Apprenticeships can also enable practitioners to gain a ...
to the architectural firm of Gustavus Alphonse Morrell & John E Kemp. For the next five years he studied part-time at
Sydney Technical College
The Sydney Technical College, now known as the TAFE New South Wales Sydney Institute, is a technical school established in 1878, that superseded the Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts. The college is one of Australia's oldest technical education i ...
and attended architecture lectures in the engineering faculty of the
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney (USYD), also known as Sydney University, or informally Sydney Uni, is a public research university located in Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and is one of the country's si ...
. In 1893 he toured the world before commencing practice as an architect in 1895. He took rooms at 164
Pitt Street
Pitt Street is a major street in the Sydney central business district in New South Wales, Australia. The street runs through the entire city centre from Circular Quay in the north to Waterloo, although today's street is in two disjointed sec ...
,
Sydney
Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...
, in a building constructed in
Sydney sandstone in the Victorian Italianate style and the restored facade is now incorporated into
Westfield Sydney
Westfield Sydney is a large, upmarket shopping centre in the Sydney central business district. It is located underneath the Sydney Tower and is located on Pitt Street Mall, adjacent to the MidCity, Glasshouse and near The Strand Arcade.
Histo ...
. He later moved his office to 42
Bridge Street, Sydney
Bridge Street is a street in the central business district of Sydney in New South Wales, Australia. Bridge Street runs for in a west–east direction with traffic flowing in both directions. It is situated in the northern portion of the centra ...
.
![Universal_Nightclub_Oxford_Street_Sydney](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/78/Universal_Nightclub_Oxford_Street_Sydney.jpg)
In 1906 Warden designed a cottage residence for Mrs W.F. Middleton at the corner of Perry and Mcauley Streets
Albury
Albury () is a major regional city in New South Wales, Australia. It is located on the Hume Highway and the northern side of the Murray River. Albury is the seat of local government for the council area which also bears the city's name – the ...
, which is still extant. The following year Warden designed a homestead at Lower Coolegong, between
Young
Young may refer to:
* Offspring, the product of reproduction of a new organism produced by one or more parents
* Youth, the time of life when one is young, often meaning the time between childhood and adulthood
Music
* The Young, an American roc ...
and
Grenfell, New South Wales
Grenfell is a town in Weddin Shire in the Central West of New South Wales, Australia. It is west of Sydney. It is close to Forbes, Cowra and Young. At the 2011 census, Grenfell had a population of 1,996. The town is served daily by conne ...
. This building is still standing and is the centrepiece of an historic family grazing property and tourist operation for the district. The commercial buildings that make up 85-91 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, in inner eastern Sydney and now housing the nightclub “Universal”, were designed by Warden commencing in 1913. In the 1920s Warden designed bungalow residences in Stanhope Road
Killara
Killara is a suburb on the Upper North Shore of Sydney in the state of New South Wales, Australia north-west of the Sydney Central Business District in the local government area of Ku-ring-gai Council. East Killara is a separate suburb and ...
and in Russell Street
Russell Lea
Russell Lea is a small suburb in the inner-west of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Russell Lea is located 8 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of the City of Canada Bay.
Rus ...
which is still standing.
Military career
In 1894, Warden joined the Field Companies NSW Engineers as a
second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces, comparable to NATO OF-1 rank.
Australia
The rank of second lieutenant existed in the military forces of the Australian colonies and Australian Army until ...
and retired in June 1922 after 28 years service as a
colonel
Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations.
In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge of ...
. On the outbreak of war in 1914 he was mobilised as Staff-Officer of Engineers and served until the end of 1919.
Newington College
![WyvernHouse](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bf/WyvernHouse.jpg)
In 1923, Warden was appointed a member of the Newington College Council and served in that capacity until 1948. During this period of 25 years he was actively involved in the development of the college's buildings and grounds.
In 1925 the Robert Glasson Memorial Boatshed was opened at
Abbotsford, New South Wales
Abbotsford is a suburb in the Inner West of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Abbotsford is 10 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of the City of Canada Bay. Abbotsford sits ...
as the rowing facility of Newington. It was named in honour of Robert E. Glasson who crossed the
Blue Mountains with his parents shortly after the discovery of gold in Australia. The family settled in the
Molong
Molong is a small town in the Central West region of New South Wales, Australia, in Cabonne Shire.
History
The name Molong comes from the Aboriginal word for 'all rocks'.
William Lee of Kelso is said to have had cattle in the area by 1819. ...
district, and in 1864 Glasson, then 20 years of age, attended Newington College for one year, later returning to the land as a grazier. The two storied building was of rusticated weatherboard, with a tiled roof. The ground floor had accommodation for the boats, dressing rooms, showers, and baths. Upstairs it had a dining-room, a dormitory sleeping 42, a kitchen and pantry and two rooms for masters or coaches. The balcony across the front of the building had extensive views of the
Parramatta River
The Parramatta River is an intermediate tide-dominated, drowned valley estuary located in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. With an average depth of , the Parramatta River is the main tributary of Sydney Harbour, a branch of Port Jackson. Seco ...
. The entire project cost Newington £3059. The building cost £2529 to erect and the river frontage cost £530. £2000 was donated by the Glasson family whilst the remainder was raised by the Old Newingtonians’ Union. Warden designed the building and Mr. J. Leckie of 12
Castlereagh Street
Castlereagh Street is a major street located in the Sydney central business district in New South Wales, Australia. The street runs in a north-to-south, in a one way direction only.
Description
Castlereagh Street's northern terminus is at the ...
, Sydney was the builder. The Warden designed building was demolished in 1994 and since 2014 the new rowing facility has been known as Robert Glasson Memorial Shed.
In 1929 Warden designed a base for the model of the college, as originally designed by architect
Thomas Rowe
Thomas Rowe (20 July 1829 – 14 January 1899) was a British-born architect, builder and goldminer who became one of Australia's leading architects of the Victorian era. He was also a politician, who was the first Mayor of Manly.
Early life ...
, when it was presented to the Old Newingtonians’ Union by Colonel Alfred Spain, V.D., and the model and base now stands in the foyer of the Founders Wing at Newington.
In 1933 an Old Newingtonian grazier and author, William Glasson, donated two thousand pounds for the erection of a grandstand between the college ovals. The
Glasson Pavilion was designed by Warden in conjunction with another Old Newingtonian architect,
Arthur Anderson. It has seating on the southern side for three hundred and fifty-six people and for half that on the northern side. It was planned so that the pavilion, which was in an overblown
Federation Bungalow
Federation architecture is the architectural style in Australia that was prevalent from around 1890 to 1915. The name refers to the Federation of Australia on 1 January 1901, when the Australian colonies collectively became the Commonwealth of Au ...
style could be extended to the east, although this didn't eventuate. The building also included dressing rooms, tea-rooms and a ladies' retiring room.
The Stanmore road boundary of Newington is distinguished by a rusticated stone and wrought iron fence and two sets of entrance gates that were designed by Warden and are now heritage listed. In 1936 the Millner gates were opened after a benefaction by
Colonel
Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations.
In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge of ...
Thomas Millner
MC VD in memory of his father, an Old Boy of
Prince Alfred College
, motto_translation = Do Brave Deeds and Endure
, established = 1869
, type = Independent, single-sex, day & boarding
, headmaster = David Roberts
, chaplain = Reverend ...
,
Adelaide
Adelaide ( ) is the capital city of South Australia, the state's largest city and the fifth-most populous city in Australia. "Adelaide" may refer to either Greater Adelaide (including the Adelaide Hills) or the Adelaide city centre. The dem ...
. In 1938 the second set of gates were opened and named in honour of
Frank Edwin Dixon
Frank or Franks may refer to:
People
* Frank (given name)
* Frank (surname)
* Franks (surname)
* Franks, a medieval Germanic people
* Frank, a term in the Muslim world for all western Europeans, particularly during the Crusades - see Farang
Curr ...
who left £200 to the school in 1929. Dixon's estate also left £500 to the
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney (USYD), also known as Sydney University, or informally Sydney Uni, is a public research university located in Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and is one of the country's si ...
who award an annual chemistry scholarship in his name and £1,000 to the
Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children
The Children's Hospital at Westmead (formerly Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children) is a children's hospital in Western Sydney. The hospital was founded in 1880 as "The Sydney Hospital for Sick Children". Its name was changed to the "Royal Alex ...
.
During 1937
Philip Le Couteur pushed ahead with the foundation of a new and separate building for Newington's preparatory school students. This building, designed by Warden and known as
Wyvern House
, motto_translation = To Our Faith Add Knowledge
, established =
, type = Independent single-sex primary day school
, denomination = Uniting Church in Australia
, gender = Boys
, educational_authority = NSW Department of Educat ...
, was finished in 1938.
Inter-War Stripped Classical in appearance, the building had well-lit classrooms for one hundred and fifty boys, and two large dormitories with open-air sleep-outs for fifty boarders. In 1998, Wyvern house moved to a separate campus and the building has been renamed the Le Couteur Wing. At the rear of the Warden designed Le Couter Wing the Tupou College Centre for Year 7 students has been opened recognising Newington's long historic links with
Tupou College
Tupou College is a Methodist boys' secondary boarding school in Toloa on the island of Tongatapu, Tonga. It is located on the Eastern District of Tongatapu near the village of Malapo. The school is owned by the Free Weslyan Church of Tonga. Estab ...
and the Pacific Kingdom of
Tonga
Tonga (, ; ), officially the Kingdom of Tonga ( to, Puleʻanga Fakatuʻi ʻo Tonga), is a Polynesian country and archipelago. The country has 171 islands – of which 45 are inhabited. Its total surface area is about , scattered over in ...
. The building was opened in 2016 by
King Tupou VI of Tonga.
King to open new Tupou College Centre in Sydney’s Newington College
Retrieved 12 October 2021.
Gallery
Millner Memorial Fence, Dixon Gates and the Glasson Pavilion
file:Memorialfence.png
File:Dixongates.png
file:Glassonpavilion2.png
File:Glassonpavilion.png
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Warden, Alfred
1868 births
1955 deaths
New South Wales architects
Australian Presbyterians
Australian military personnel of World War I
People educated at Newington College
Members of Newington College Council