its size, grandiosity and the cost incurred, it came to be known as Payne's Folly. At the back is a large block containing stables and coach house. Due to its elevation the house has clear views of (and its tower in particular can be viewed from) other colonial landmarks in the district such as the spire of St. John's Church, Camden, Camelot (formerly Kirkham), Harrington Park and Orielton estates. The opulent mansion bankrupted Payne: he sold it in 1902 and it became Camden Grammar School. Alternative history Payne sold the house to its architect, Francis Buckle, in 1891 and Buckle sold it in 1902 to Dr Henry Oliver. It became Camden Grammar School until 1933 when it was sold to Arthur Gregory, a Hollywood movie mogul. Gregory, a keen golfer, commissioned construction of a nine-hole golf course, later adding another nine holes. A few decades later it was transformed into an art deco playground for the sales manager of 20th Century Fox. During World War II it was resumed as the Eastern Command Training School for the army. In 1951 the first intake of the newly-formed Women's Royal Australian Army Corps began training at Studley Park House. Today, Camden Golf Club owns and is restoring this lovely house. It is open to the public during the year on specially-planned open days and for functions to raise money for restoration. In 2009 the house was sold to a private owner and the golf course land was transferred to the care, control and management of Camden Council. Description Setting The former Hume Highway (the main road south of Sydney once, now Camden Valley Way) was the original access to the site - an early set of gates are still visible on this road) abuts the grounds of the Studley Park / Camden Golf Club, to the west. Lodges Road (the current entry to Camden Golf Club) abuts the grounds to the east. The original Studley Park estate (1880s) was in the order of . The total remaining area today is , including golf course, land for flood mitigation works, house lot etc. Surrounding Studley Park House is Camden Golf Course. Behind the outbuildings are a range of Army era buildings (from WW2), the club house (adapted from and extending the coach/carriage house) of the Camden Golf Course, parking and landscaped areas of golf course. Two areas of woodland abut the Army era