Charles Adnam Fairland

Charles Fairland was born in Paddington. He came to Sydney High from Fort Street Public School in 1891 because “Uncle had been a Master at St James’ Grammar School... and the Sydney High School succeeded to the School Buildings and traditions of St James’.”

An engineer by profession, he was also an Alderman of Hunters Hill for a record number of years (he is commemorated there in the C A Fairland Hall in Church St, Hunters Hill), President of the Metropolitan Junior Rugby Union for many years and was a guiding force in the City and Suburban Cricket Association.

He was President of the OBU in 1909-1910 and held a variety of other executive positions, including those of Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer for more than half a century. 

The establishment of the Parents and Citizens Association at Sydney High, in 1925, resulted from the suggestions of Fairland and the Headmaster, George Saxby.

Fairland worked with R T McKay in the establishment of the McKay Sportsground. Charles' brother, Sid, was manager of the Sydney Cricket Ground and he was no doubt of assistance to Charles when Charles arranged for the laying of the cricket pitch at McKay.

The dressing sheds at McKay, originally a single-storey structure built in 1933, were extended and a new floor added in 1952. Charles Fairland officially opened the resulting "Fairland Pavilion" on 29 November 1952.

His obituary in The Record for 1955 said:

Seemingly enjoying the secret of perpetual youth, particularly in the energy devoted to the welfare of schoolboys, youths, cricketers, footballers and ratepayers—and in his outlook on life—Charles Fairland became a legend in his lifetime. … He was regarded as the connecting link between the older and younger generations, and it is said by some that he knew everybody who passed through the School from 1883 to 1955 and could remember some incident about each.

Headmaster, Ken Andrews paid tribute to him at the 1955 speech day:

Almost one of the “originals” (he left school in 1893), he was closely associated with the School all his life. His interest and enthusiasm which never seemed to flag were an inspiration to Old Boys of his own and each succeeding generation. … His work benefitted the School in a hundred ways and his passing … was a great loss to us all.

In 1955, he was one of four old boys whose fine record of service to High was recognised in the renaming of the School’s Houses.

He is also commemorated in the Charles A Fairland Memorial Lectern which the OBU presented to the School on his behalf on 1 October 1958.