Photo of the Demountable Buildings at St Marys High School in 1957 courtesy of State Archives NSW.

By Lyn Forde – President/Research Officer of St Marys & District Historical Society Inc.

IN 1962 “Freedom Park” had been chosen by Mr William J Eason the Principal of St Marys High School and proposed by him at the South Creek vicinity the name for the community centre area. Mr Eason submitted his plan for public consideration and discussion this Education Week when interest is focussed on the needs of children present and future. The plan proposed is entry from Queen Street near the Bank of NSW from the Western Highway to the Sydney side of South Creek and from Dunheved to the east of the golf links. About 180 acres. The land facing Queen Street is now being developed with the assistance of the St Marys Rotary Club, the land occupied by the Scouts’ hall,  the area known as Athletics Oval,  the St Marys High School War Memorial Pool, the land owned by Penrith City Council extending from the Western Highway along the bank of South Creek to the railway line, the St Marys High School area and that portion of Commonwealth land lying to the north of the railway line and extending to the Dunheved golf links, a portion dedicated as “public gardens and recreation area”. The individual authorities at present controlling and developing the various sections to retain the autonomy but to develop a loose form of federation. The athletics oval area to be developed by the Leagues Club and the area to the north of the railway line to be developed by the National Fitness Association. As the St Marys High School area is the most advanced in development at present it is suggested that the facilities of the school be made more fully available after school hours, weekends and during school vacations. With the regard to this immediate development and to the use of the school by the community centre it is also suggested that a citizens committee be appointed to negotiate with the Department of Education and to operate the community centre and that a number of clubs be formed to work in afternoons from 4 p.m. and each club be supervised by a paid instructor also a superintendent be appointed. The clubs to be open to all school children of the St Marys area (State and Non-State). That provision be made for the outlying schools by the establishment of small centres and an instructor and a bus service to bring the children to the main centre and a number of clubs to be established be decided by the money available. That the clubs be financed by donations from the employees of industrial firms and business and by donations from the service clubs, by private donations and a small membership fee. That in general the donations should be on a weekly basis. That a salary of say 30/- per hour be paid to instructors. It is apparent that for an income of £12 a week it would be possible to establish for four afternoons per week one club at St Marys High School and one club or recreation centre at for example Bennett Road school. It may be necessary at the outlying centre to organise working-bees for the quick development of the area. For the future development of the park and of the community centre with its outlying partners the following suggestions are made and hopes expressed. (a) That the gateways to the park from Queen Street and from the Western Highway should in some way commemorate the fact that South Creek is “the birthplace of a free nation”. (b) That during the 1963 celebrations of the crossing of the Blue Mountains there should be an official opening of the park. (c) That there should be no fear amongst various organisations of loss of individual authority. (d) That somewhere to the west of South Creek an area should be acquired which will provide a centre for rural pursuits such as animal husbandry, plant growing, horse-riding and other such interests. (e) That the difficulties to be encountered should, in no way, prevent us from recognising that the plan is a practical one. Mr Eason was a well-liked Headmaster with a vision. He came to St Marys High School from Penrith and was instrumental in changing the structure of learning within the school. 

Source – Nepean Times Thursday 9 August 1962