Lawrence Richard Dimond Pyke (1 November 1912 – July 1987) was an Australian headmaster and university dean.
[6] Pyke led the College through a period of unprecedented growth, both in the size of its enrolments and in the transformation of its physical fabric.
In 1952 work started on the War Memorial Block, the first of a series of permanent, modern buildings to be built along the southern boundary over the next few years.
Pyke was only the second scientist headmaster at Newington (most had been classical scholars) and he was keen to improve facilities for teaching Chemistry and Physics.
Preliminary work started in 1959 on the building incorporating new classrooms, boarders' accommodation, an enlarged library and a new staff common room.
A number of regions of Sydney were investigated in 1956 for opportunities to meet local demand for quality education and to increase the flow of primary students to the senior school at Stanmore.