William Thompson Masonic School

In 1918, William Thompson thought that the wide open spaces and rolling landscape of Baulkham Hills would be a good location to establish homes for children who had been orphaned or left in poor circumstances following World War I. The project was funded by the Masons.  At its peak, the school was home to 364 children, many of whom lived on the property.

The William Thompson Masonic School was opened on the 11 November, 1922.  During World War II the children were moved into the countryside and the buildings became the 103rd Australian General Hospital. The school reopened on November, 8, 1947 as the Masonic School and functioned as such until the 1970s. In December 1973 The Hills Shire Council purchased the property and it was renamed Balcombe Heights Estate.

Several of the original school buildings still exist including the dormitory buildings, classrooms, gymnasium, staff cottages and the Georgian Revival style central administration block. The main hall building was lost to fire and has now been replaced with a modern community hall suitable for hire.