Newington College

Newington College was founded in 1863. It was established as a result of a growing demand in the Wesleyan Methodist Church that an institution higher than elementary school was needed in Sydney. Rev John Manton (1807-1864) was the leading advocate and the College's first president. The 'Wesleyan Collegiate Institution' was established at Newington House on the banks of the Parramatta River at Silverwater by the former home of colonial merchant and landowner John Blaxland. The College opened its doors on 16 July 1863 with 16 students aged between eight and 22. The College was conceived as '…decidedly Wesleyan in its character [but] … open to the sons of parents of all religious denominations.' The College also functioned as the home for theological training for the Methodist Church in NSW until 1914.