Isabel Fidler Memorial Garden Site

This item is part of the HerStory Hike with the Archives, a history walk around the Camperdown and Darlington campuses of the University.

Her Love of a Garden

On 18 August 1890, it was first resolved by the Senate, "That a lady be appointed to take charge of the 'Womens' Common Room'". [Ref 1].

The first ‘Tutor to the Women Students’, which was, "…the only female position on the University’s teaching staff for many decades", [Ref 2], was Helen P Phillips, who held the position from 1891 [Ref 3] until June 1892 [Ref 4].

Jane Foss Russell took up the role a month later [Ref 5] and worked until 1899 [Ref 6], after which the Chancellor reported to the Senate on 3 July 1899 that although, “…he had made enquiry as to the most suitable person to be appointed as Tutor to the Women Students…he had found that most of the ladies who were eligible were engaged in some occupation in which they would require to give due notice before terminating their engagement. He recommended the appointment of Miss Florence Martin for the remainder of Miss Russell’s term of office…and that applications be at once invited by advertisement for the permanent office”. [Ref 7].

The “most suitable lady” was selected on 9 October 1899 when the Senate noted that, “A report was received from the Committee appointed to consider the applications for the office of Tutor to the Women Students and to recommend the names of three eligible candidates…that Miss I. M. Fidler BA be appointed to the office” [Ref 8], just a year after she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts with First Class Honours in Latin, English and French [Ref 9].

Fidler’s commitment to her work is undeniable as she wrote on 26 April 1929 to the Vice-Chancellor that, “In my interview with you today I discussed the possibility of my being given a year’s leave of absence, and acting on your advice, I should like now to ask whether the Senate would consider the question of granting it to me from the end of 1929. Since my appointment in 1900 I have not asked for leave, nor has it been necessary for it to be granted to me for any reason”. [Ref 10]. The Senate, on 6 May 1929, “…granted leave on full pay during 1930”. [Ref 11].

The Registrar wrote to the Vice-Chancellor on 24 June 1938, “…I feel that the case of Miss Fidler should be considered too. It occurred to me to look at her record card. She was born on the 21st March, 1869 so that she will be 70 years of age by March next. Her pension money…has been accumulating since 1934. Methinks she should be told that she must retire at the 31st December, 1938 or not later than 28th February, 1939”. [Ref 12]. The Senate, however, on 4 July 1938, ultimately, “…resolved to inform Miss Fidler that…her services would be terminated on 21st March, 1939”. [Ref 13].

On 6 February 1939, “The Registrar brought under the notice of the Senate that…Miss I.M. Fidler would retire from the Tutorship to the Women Students, which she had held since 1900…it was resolved to place on record the appreciation of the Senate of the services rendered”. [Ref 14]. This was followed up by a letter to Fidler from the Registrar who noted the Senate’s, “…appreciation of the services rendered by you during your long tenure…The Fellows of the Senate hope that you will be spared to continue a long life of usefulness to the community. The many good deeds which you have carried out during your association with the University will be remembered for many a day by those who knew your work and worth. May I express regret that the time has come for your official severance from University duties?”. [Ref 15]. The 1940 Calendar also noted that, “Miss Fidler took more than a prominent part in the community life of the University, and was successful in guiding the early activities of the Women’s Union. She was and still is a constant devotee to duty in the interests of the University Settlement”. [Ref 16].

On 16 June 1952, the Registrar wrote to Fidler’s sister to, “…convey to you sincerest sympathy on the death of your sister…Miss Fidler’s many University friends mourn her passing and realise how much her devoted service as Tutor to the Women Students has meant to the University, and, in particular, to the Women’s Union”. [Ref 17].

The respect and regard expressed for Fidler was sincere as within four months of her death, the Isabel Fidler Memorial Fund, "...with the object of raising funds to establish a memorial garden to her" was created, as the Fund, “…considers it appropriate that Miss Fidler's name should be associated with a garden at the University since all who knew her will remember her love of the University and her love of a garden…The work of Miss Fidler for the University and for University women is well known. Her fellow students will recall her academic distinction; many later graduates will remember Miss Fidler’s wise advice in student days and her financial judgment on the Women’s Union Board; others her gracious presence at University functions. Many will remember her great capacity for detail, and in the wider sphere of community activities her committee work and unique chairmanship". [Ref 18].

On 2 March 1953, the Senate, "...approved of the establishment of a Memorial Garden on a piece of ground between Manning House and the Old Medical School, to be called the Isabel Fidler Memorial Garden...further agreed to accept as a gift to the University the money raised by the Committee for the establishment of this Garden, and agreed to arrange for the maintenance of the Garden when established". [Ref 19].

The Gazette announced this decision in September 1953 and described the project, “The site chosen for the Memorial lies between Manning House, the new Economics Building and the Old Medical School. Designed by Professor Denis Winston, the garden includes an oval lawn sunk some feet below the level of the existing roadways and bounded on the north by a grass bank rising in the form of a small amphitheatre. At the southern end three shallow steps lead to a curved stone seat flanked by large flower boxes. Two fine existing fig trees make a background for jacarandas and flowering shrubs”. [Ref 20].

Although the design had been finalised by 1953 and it was hoped, in a letter dated 1 May 1954, that, “…it may be possible for the work on the Garden to be complete in time for an opening ceremony in the second week in November, at which the presentation of the Memorial to the University would take place”, the project was still in progress in 1958.

On 18 August 1958, the Registrar received a letter expressing, “…concern on behalf of members of the Settlement, at the long delay in completing the Miss Fidler Memorial Garden. As you know, women graduates and friends of the Settlement who had been associated with her long work there, were largely instrumental in raising the funds for this particular memorial. The work on the Memorial seems to have been in abeyance now for several years, and both the women graduates and the executive are hoping that it might be possible to see the Garden officially opened before the end of the present academic year”. The Registrar replied that, “It had been pointed out that the Men’s Sports Union intended to build squash courts on the western side of the Memorial Garden and it was thought it would be better to wait until the courts were finished before holding the opening ceremony. This was because we thought that while the squash courts were under construction the appearance of the garden and the aspect from the garden would be in some degree spoilt…perhaps it would be better to delay the opening until early in 1959”. This proposal was accepted, but it appears that planting remained an ongoing job.

On 13 July 1964, Professor Winston wrote to Assistant Principal, perhaps wryly, that, "To celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of Manning House and the twelfth anniversary of my design for the Fidler Memorial Garden could the planting now be completed? I know you are worried about jiggery-pokery occurring if we close the garden in too much – so let us leave a wide enough space on either side of the entrance steps to the garden but keep the jasmine hedge". [Ref 21].

Ref 1: Senate Minutes June 1888 to July 1891 (04/06/1888 to 06/07/1891), p. 276, [REF-00002752]. University of Sydney Archives.

Ref 2: Senate Meeting Papers 16 June 2008 (16/06/2008), p. C2, [REF-00070792]. University of Sydney Archives.

Ref 3: Calendar of the University of Sydney 1891 (1891), p. 297, [REF-00020863]. University of Sydney Archives.

Ref 4: Calendar of the University of Sydney 1892 (1892), p. 400, [REF-00020866]. University of Sydney Archives.

Ref 5: Senate Minutes July 1891 to August 1893 (20/07/1891 to 07/08/1893), pp. 195-196, [REF-00002753]. University of Sydney Archives.

Ref 6: Senate Minutes December 1898 to July 1904 (05/12/1898 to 08/07/1904), p. 40, [REF-00002755]. University of Sydney Archives.

Ref 7: see Ref 6, p. 46.

Ref 8: see Ref 6, pp. 62-63.

Ref 9: Conferring of Degrees/Graduation Ceremony 23 April 1898 (23/04/1898), p. 4, [REF-00077482]. University of Sydney Archives.

Ref 10: Fidler, Isabel Margaret (1929 to 1953), [REF-00046730]. University of Sydney Archives.

Ref 11: Senate Minutes 1927 to 1931 (1927 to 1931), p. 242, [REF-00000009]. University of Sydney Archives.

Ref 12: see Ref 10.

Ref 13: Senate Minutes February 1937 to May 1939 (08/02/1937 to 13/05/1939), p. 311, [REF-00000016]. University of Sydney Archives.

Ref 14: see Ref 13, p. 433.

Ref 15: see Ref 10.

Ref 16: Calendar of the University of Sydney 1940 (1940), p. 616, [REF-00020987]. University of Sydney Archives.

Ref 17: see Ref 10.

Ref 18: Isabel Fidler Memorial Garden (1952 to 1964), [REF-00041366]. University of Sydney Archives.

Ref 19: Senate Minutes 1951 to 1953 (02/07/1951 to 02/03/1953), p. 490, [REF-00070367]. University of Sydney Archives.

Ref 20: The Gazette, Vol 1 No 8 (Sep 1953), p. 111, [REF-00092710]. University of Sydney Archives.

Ref 21: see Ref 18.