Archives



Broken Hill Shelter

Broken Hill Shelter was established in 1942 by the Child Welfare Department as a remand home for children defined as delinquent. By the 1950s it mainly operated as housing for children awaiting their hearings at the nearby Broken Hill Children’s Court. There was room for six boys and girls up to the age of 18…

Bidura

Bidura in Glebe was a historic house that was acquired by the New South Wales Government in 1920. It was converted to a depot and receiving home, holding children while they awaited foster placements, children’s court hearings or transfer to other establishments. Many children stayed for extended periods. In 1923 it was named the Metropolitan…

Berry Training Farm

Berry Training Farm was established in 1934 by the Department of Child Welfare on the former Berry State Farm. It was a farm training school. At the time it was started it received boys aged between 14 and 18 from Turner or Suttor Cottages, Brougham, Yarra Bay, Weroona or May Villa. By the 1950s it…

Allanville Home

Allanville Home was established at Wellington by the Department of Community Services as a receiving home for state wards. It was established in the mid-1970s and housed 15 children at a time. Allanville Home closed in 1995. A search of available information about Allanville Home turns up both positive and negative stories. In 2003 the…

Anglewood

Anglewood was established by the Child Welfare Department in 1943 at Burradoo, near Bowral, as a boarding school for boys whose ‘only reason for committal was school truancy’. Boys were detained in the home for up to two years. Some children were transferred from the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and placed in this Home. Anglewood…

Masonic Orphan Schools

Masonic Orphan Schools was founded in 1922 at Baulkham Hills (in Sydney’s north west) for the care and education of the children of deceased Freemasons. In 1924 its name was changed to William Thompson Memorial School. In 2012 Find and Connect staff were advised by the United Grand Lodge of the Masons NSW/ACT that all…

Wybalena

Wybalena was established in the former William Thompson Masonic School hospital at Baulkham Hills. It was converted into a family group home for boys. The children moved into their new accommodation on 27 November 1976. In 1978 a new building was built to replace the old hospital building. The home closed around the 1990s. In…

Orana

Orana was established by William Thompson Masonic School in 1978 at Baulkham Hills as a family group home. It closed in the early 1990s. In 2012 Find and Connect staff were advised by the United Grand Lodge of the Masons NSW/ACT that all records relating to the Masonic Orphan Schools, William Thompson Masonic School and…

William Thompson Masonic School

The William Thompson Masonic School was founded in 1922 at Baulkham Hills (in Sydney’s north west) for the care and education of the children of deceased Freemasons. It had previously been Masonic Orphan Schools. Different sources give different dates when the school was closed. The site was sold to the Hills Shire Council in December…

Boronia

Boronia was established in 1976 at Castle Hill by the Freemasons for use as a family group home. It was for girls. It closed in the 1990s. In 2012 Find and Connect staff were advised by the United Grand Lodge of the Masons NSW/ACT that all records relating to the Masonic Orphan Schools, William Thompson…