Geelong Orphan Asylum

The Geelong Orphan Asylum was established in 1854. In 1862, the name of the orphanage changed to Geelong Protestant Orphanage, to clarify the asylum’s religious connections, although there was no formal connection between the Orphanage and the church.

The Geelong Orphan Asylum came into being as a result of a public meeting in 1854, called by William Hingston Baylie, Mayor of Geelong, ‘to promote the establishment of an Orphan Asylum in the town of Geelong.’ As a result of the meeting, a committee was formed and work commenced immediately.

Community concerns about orphaned, abandoned and neglected children in Geelong led to the campaign for the town to have its own orphan asylum. The supporters of the Geelong Orphan Asylum largely came from Geelong’s Protestant community, however it had no formal affiliations with the church or other religious groups.

Just as had occurred in Melbourne and other large provincial towns, the gold rushes had caused major social upheaval, leading to concern about the number of destitute, ‘neglected’, abandoned or orphaned children and the lack of public facilities for them.

The community of Geelong regarded the establishment of its own orphanage as fulfilling a social and moral responsibility to children and their families. A Geelong businessman, James Austin contributed to the Orphan Asylum as a co-founder and patron alongside William Baylie, and many other local residents made contributions to local fundraising efforts.

The Geelong Orphan Asylum was established in a bluestone building at Herne Hill, recently used as a museum for the Geelong Cement Works. The foundation stone for the Geelong Orphan Asylum was laid in March 1855 after the Committee received notification that the Government had allocated funds for the project. The building was completed in June 1885 and was ready to accept children from October 1855.

In 1862, the name of the orphanage changed to Geelong Protestant Orphanage, to clarify the asylum’s religious connections and support base (distinguishing it from the Catholic orphanage in Geelong, St Augustine’s, established in the mid 1850s). However there was no formal connection between the orphanage and the church.

Glastonbury Child and Family Services is the custodian of records from Geelong Orphan Asylum.