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who will take their families into the country, place them where they
have fewer temptations. The children who are with parents that love
and fear God, are in every way much better situated to learn of the
Great Teacher, who is the source and fountain of wisdom. They have
a much more favorable opportunity to gain a fitness for the kingdom
of heaven.”
Special Testimonies On Education, 84-104
.
Looking for a Suitable Property
Elder Olsen remained in Australia about six weeks after the close
of the 1894 camp meeting. During that time he joined heartily in
the search for a suitable place for the school. The officers of the
Conference and the locating committee were hoping that some good
property might be found before his departure for America, but in
this they were disappointed. Mrs. White visited many of the places
under consideration. As the search advanced, it became evident that
great difficulty would be experienced in securing, at moderate cost, a
property suitable for the broad lines of work it was thought should be
carried on by the school.
In May, five members of the committee visited Dora Creek and
Cooranbong, and examined the tract of land which was afterward
purchased for $4,500. This tract contained 1,450 acres of wild land,
about 500 acres of which was thought to be suitable for the cultivation
of grains, fruits, and vegetables, and for pasture. After its purchase,
the estate was named “Avondale,” because of the numerous creeks and
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the abundance of flowing water. The place chosen for school buildings
is about three miles west from the Dora Creek railway station, and one
and a quarter miles southeast of the Cooranbong post office.
In January and February of 1895, the friends of the school were
favored with a visit from Mrs. A. E. Wessels, of Cape Town, South
Africa, accompanied by three of her children. They were well pleased
with many features of the Avondale estate; and being deeply in sym-
pathy with the objects and aims of the work, her daughter Anna gave
$5,000 to help make a beginning.