TRESILLIAN - 2-4 Shaw St Petersham
1921 - 2026
Tresillian was built in 1900 for timber merchant & three times Mayor of Petersham, Frederick Langdon. The original house is substantially intact, although much modified. It is a two storey Edwardian building, with elaborate timber detailing. The joinery in the cedar doors, partitions and staircase is exceptionally fine. Langdon & Langdon joinery was located corner Wardell Road & New Canterbury Road, Petersham. Langdon named his house Tresillian after a hamlet near the town of Truro, Cornwall, near his birthplace.
Infant mortality was high during the years of World War One and and the flu pandemic. 100 in 1,000 babies and infants died before 2 years of age. This led to the formation of The Royal Society For The Welfare Of Mothers and Babies, whose aims were to save lives, improve the conditions for children up to school age, and help ensure proper nursing and health conditions for mothers and babies.
The property at 2-4 Shaw St Petersham was bought by the Society in 1920. An Infant Welfare Training School was established to help train Nurses and mothers in baby health. The Society adopted the name Tresillian, which became synonymous with mothercraft nursing in NSW.
The programs at Tresilian helped drive improved health services for children. Together with Immunisation programs (diptheria and whooping cough), infant mortality was reduced to 30 in a thousand by 1935.
Similar Tresillian homes were established at Willoughby, Vaucluse, and Wollstonecraft, and later Penrith.
During the 76 years that Tresillian operated as a hospital there have been many modifications to the building, including the addition of new wing in 1975. Fortunately the original fabric has not been destroyed, and much original timberwork remains.
Tresillian Petersham closed in 1997, relocating to Canterbury Hospital.
Subsequent owner(s) operated the property as a boarding house. It became run down and fell into disrepair.
The property (size 2,500 m2) was acquired by Caper Co-living in 2017. Over $3M was spent in restoration and renovation, and conversion to co living accommodation. The property now comprises 40 modern fully furnished studio apartments. It also includes four themed communal living and dining areas, a library with dedicated co-working space, and a courtyard. The property is well managed and maintained.
Images:
1921: Archives NSW
2026: Stephen Thomas
Sources:
(1) Tresillian web site
(2) Marrickville, Rural Outpost to Inner City, Richard Cashman & Chrys Meader
(3) Marrickville Heritage Society , and Historian Rod Aanenson. and my local knowledge.
