The commencement of summer sport provides an opportunity to look at the early days of cricket at Newington.

We know from contemporary accounts that boys have played cricket from the start of the school at Newington House, Silverwater.  The ‘green’ was close to the main buildings: it was natural that this was where cricket and other games were played.  The senior and junior students were reported to have had their own playing spaces.

Much of the cricket played would have been informal matches organised within the school.  However, Newington was soon fielding teams to play not only against other schools but also against local clubs.  School opponents included Camden College, a Congregational school in Newtown, St Mark’s at Macquarie Fields and the Calder House School in Redfern.  The clubs included Balmain Surrey, the Albert Club (reportedly the premier club of the day), Parramatta and ‘a Sydney Eleven’.  Regular GPS competition did not start until 1893.

Matches were irregular.  It was reportedly ‘…rather a journey to get to or from Newington early enough to play a two-innings match.’  Parramatta was five miles away by steamer, and Sydney fourteen miles.

An important asset for Newington was Joseph Coates, who taught at the school from 1864 to 1872, returning later as Head Master.  A noted member of the ‘2^nd Alberts’, he was reportedly a good all-rounder and left-hand bowler.  With cricket organised at Newington as a club, he and other Masters could play for the school, as could former students.  Two prominent cricketers to emerge from Newington in the 1860s were Edwin ‘Ted’ Evans and Tom Garrett, both of whom subsequently played for Australia.

Illustrated is the Newington team from around 1870, in our earliest cricket image.  The photograph was taken on the verandah of Newington House.  Several members are wearing Cadet uniform caps.  The man in the plaid shirt is probably Joseph Coates.

David Roberts
College Archivist