Archives



Metropolitan Hospitals and Charities Department, State Government of New South Wales

The Metropolitan Hospitals and Charities Department was the name given to the Department of Charitable Institutions in 1911. It had responsibility for state hospitals and asylums for the infirm. It was amalgamated with the Office of the Director-General of Public Health, the forerunner of the Department of Public Health, in 1913.

Office of the Director-General of Public Health

The Office of the Director-General of Public Health was a department created by the New South Wales Government in 1913 as part of the Chief Secretary’s Department. It had responsibility for government asylums for the infirm, which had previously been part of the Metropolitan Hospitals and Charities Department. It looked after public health areas such…

Inspector of Public Charities

The Inspector of Public Charities was a person appointed by the New South Wales Government under the Public Institutions Inspection Act 1866 to inquire into the management of all hospitals, infirmaries, orphan schools and charitable institutions that received government funds. In 1886 areas of responsibility that the Inspector of Public Charities reported upon included the…

Hospitals Commission of New South Wales

The Hospitals Commission of New South Wales was a board appointed by the New South Wales Government in 1929 to provide a complete hospital system. It did not run hospitals, as hospitals had their own boards and management. The duties of the Commission were to inspect hospitals, inquire into standards and hospital administration, determine which…

Department of Public Health, State Government of New South Wales

The New South Wales Department of Public Health was established as a separate ministerial department by the New South Wales Government in 1938. It held responsibility for general hospitals (previously under the Colonial Secretary’s Department), mental hospitals (previously under the Master of Lunacy), and the Office of Public Health. From 1965 this Department contained a…

The Spastic Centre of New South Wales

The Spastic Centre was a non-government organisation that supported children and adults with cerebral palsy, which was once known as ‘spastic paralysis’. It ran the New South Wales Hostel for Country Children at Allambie Heights from 1953. It was established in 1945 by a group of parents led by Neil and Audrie McLeod, whose daughter…

Wesley Mission

Wesley Mission was the new name chosen by the Wesley Central Mission in 1993. It is a Wesleyan Methodist non-government organisation that continues the social welfare, charity and ministry work of the Wesley Central Mission (1977-1993) and the Central Methodist Mission (1884-1977). Wesley Mission is a major provider of welfare services, including Dalmar and Lifeline.

Bernard-Smith Children’s Home

The Bernard-Smith Children’s Home was established at Hamilton Park, Pymble by the Central Methodist Mission. It opened on 27 February 1960 after the building, Hamilton Park, was donated by Ken Bernard-Smith, a solicitor. It could accomodate 25 children children aged from two to 17. The Home closed in 1988. It was reported on RealEstate.com.au that…

Barnett Cottage

Barnett Cottage at Mt Druitt was set up in 1984 by Wesley Mission to provide emergency care for children. As at 2014, it is not clear when this home closed, or whether it has.

Francis Street Annexe (Wesley Central Mission)

The Francis Street Annexe of Wesley Central Mission was converted to a children’s home in 1980 to house Vietnamese refugee children who arrived without parents, and homeless teenagers. It is thought to have closed around 1990.