Dolls Point residents who fought to save Primrose House last year will get a chance to look around the historic building – with new owners The Scots College holding an open day.
The historic house was put up for sale last year on behalf of the South Eastern Sydney Local Health District.
Local residents feared it might be sold and demolished but were rapt to find out the Presbyterian Church Property Trust was the successful bidder for the site, who plan to transform it into a preparatory school for The Scots College.
This Saturday, from 10am to noon, the historic site will be open to the community to wander the halls and see inside the building that most have only seen from the outside.
The Scots College took possession of the property from the NSW Government on February 17, and wanted to hold an open day for local residents.
The school intends to open a preparatory school (from kindergarten to Year 6) for boys starting from next year. The school will most likely open its doors to students in kindergarten to Year 4 in 2018, and expand in following years.
The open day this Saturday will also include information on the school, a free sausage sizzle, activities and rides for children, as well as performances by the award-winning The Scots College pipes and drums group.
There will also be a short formal ceremony at 10.45am.
"The Scots College is immensely grateful to those that fought to save the property from potential development and creating the opportunity for the college to once again become part of the local community," The Scots College principal Dr Ian Lambert said.
The purchase marks the return of the college after 124 years to the place of its founding.
It was founded on the shores of Botany Bay in 1893, when The Scots College accepted its first students in Brighton-Le-Sands.
The open day will be the only time the community will be able to see inside Primrose House before safety fencing is erected and the conservation and adaptive re-use works begin in preparation for the school commencement in 2018, so locals are being encouraged not to miss out.
“There is a lot of work to do to bring the house back to its former glory and prepare it for students,” Dr Lambert said.
“We have a great team who have award-winning experience conserving and adapting the heritage properties, Aspinall House and Fairfax House, at our Bellevue Hill senior school.
"We look forward to becoming the new custodians of its rich heritage for future generations." Primrose House is located on 190 Russell Ave in Dolls Point.
