The gardens were at one time extensively landscaped and featured water fountains, summer house, schoolroom and a hall where church services for the small township of Guildford were held.

The family lived comfortably in this quiet rural estate until George McCredie died, aged 44, at Linnwood of unknown causes following a period of sickness in 1903.

[2] In June 1892, after having been elected to the Mayoralty of Prospect and Sherwood, George McCredie entertained his fellow alderman, and two local press men, at Linnwood.

For the grounds, the report describes roses, a tennis court in front of the house, "a Church behind the vines to the west, a range of model stables and coach-houses down south where the electric light plant is stored; a coachman's quarters fountains, a swimming bath, gigantic swings and summer-houses, growing crops, and avenues, and poultry yards.

[2] In 1890, Susan McCredie's brother, Ludovic Blackwood, had purchased land from the Whittaker Estate, acquiring Lots 18 to 23 of Section D, which adjoined the property on which Linnwood was subsequently built, and fronted Carrington.

Mr Dawson was insistent, and stated that the congestion "leaves no room for further admissions unless I follow the suicidal method of releasing boys before they are due, of which, I must confess, I have already been guilty".

The existing shower baths were located in a detached building occupied by a teacher and his family (wife and three children), and were considered to be an intrusion on privacy, and discharged waste water to the ground nearby.

[6] In the summer break of 1935 to 1936, Superintendent Dawson took long service leave, and took a study tour of the UK and the United States, looking at schooling for "maladjusted" children.

[2] Prior to opening Linnwood as a domestic science training school for female state wards, repairs were required, including renovation of the portable classrooms.

The report notes that organisations such as Rotary and the C.W.A were responsible for providing outings for the girls and facilitating contact with the community (a picture of the Queen presented by the CWA hangs in the central hall).

[2] In Departmental literature, Lynwood Hall was described as a "home science training establishment", but which also "develops special courses where necessary for girls proposing to take up employment in particular avenues, e.g., commercial and industrial business and nursing".

Alternatively, girls who had misbehaved were made to scrub the tiled veranda floors, or the main hall, or the large dining area at the rear of the building.

The intention, according to the department, was to provide "a family type setting with minimum restrictions" The report also noted that upon opening Faulds House, Linnwood was closed and renovated, "to be reopened as a hostel for working age girl wards".

[2] The Friends of Linnwood Hall was formed in 2002 following a successful community campaign to save it from being sold and redeveloped by the NSW Department of Education.

[14][2] Holroyd City Council debated handing back control of Linnwood Hall to the state government in November–December 2015, after a proposal to subdivide the land and use sale proceeds to fund its restoration have been stalled.

Several other early elements from the initial phase of development of the property are evident within this curtilage including an unusual octagonal summerhouse, several mature trees and fountains.

The gardens were at one time extensively landscaped and featured water fountains, summer house, schoolroom and a hall where church services for the small township of Guildford were held.

), Himalayan or deodar cedar (Cedrus deodara), brush box (Lophostemon confertus), African olive (Olea africana), mulberry (Morus alba), firewheel tree (Stenocarpus sinuatus), hoop pine (Araucaria cunninghamii), crepe myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica), plums (Prunus cerasifera cv.s).

[2] As at 6 March 2002, historic photographs show intensively developed grounds with ornamental flower beds, statues, fountains and gravel drives or paths.

On a broader level George McCredie is known historically for his role in conducting the cleansing of The Rocks following the outbreak of the bubonic plague in 1900, and the building activities of his family firm A.L.

The remnant of Linwood estate can still demonstrate by its scale within its urban setting the former extent of the land holdings of Susan McCredie, who was also a prominent local figure in her own right.

Linnwood is significant as a late 19th century country retreat constructed by a prosperous city businessman demonstrating a pattern of land use that occurred during this time beyond the outskirts of Sydney.

Linnwood is historically representative of the wealth and aspirations of this class of Late Victorian Sydney self made men, and also demonstrates the extensive local landholdings of Susan McCredie.

Linnwood Hall is associated with George McCredie, a significant figure in the cultural history of the local area, and to a lesser extent of NSW.

[2] George McCredie is significantly associated with the history of NSW primarily through his management and action of cleansing The Rocks area in Sydney following the outbreak of the bubonic plague in 1900.

George McCredie was contracted by the city to carry out the cleansing process which included the resumption of many buildings in the area, the cleaning of drains and sewers and catching and destroying rats.

The house, constructed in a slightly Italianate style, featured quality internal decoration and pleasure gardens displaying the high aspirations of the McCredies.

[2] Linnwood Hall and its grounds has, since the period of construction, exhibited and retained landmark qualities in the local area due to the aesthetic character of the dwelling and it associated landscape.

[2] Linnwood is evidence of a "welfare site" that was continually adapted over the course of eighty years in order to meet specific use requirements in regards to the housing and education of particular groups of state wards in NSW.

[2] Faulds House and McCredie Cottage are representative of the use of the site for specific welfare purposes, and of the Sydney School of architecture translated into Government institutional buildings.