Archives



Royal Hospital for Women

The Royal Hospital for Women is a maternity hospital that was established at Paddington in 1901 by the Benevolent Society. It was designated the Royal Hospital for Women in 1904 and a new building opened in 1905. The Royal Hospital for Women organised many of the adoptions of babies in New South Wales. Since 1992…

Crown Street Women’s Hospital

Crown Street Women’s Hospital was established in Hay Street in 1893 and moved to Surry Hills in 1897. It was a public women’s and maternity hospital. In addition to being a general women’s hospital, Crown Street accommodated many single mothers, including state wards and Aboriginal wards, and its staff arranged a high proportion of New…

Renwick Hospital for Infants, Thomas Street

533The Renwick Hospital for Infants was opened in 1911 by the Benevolent Society. The building had been the Thomas Street Asylum, but was converted to a babies’ hospital to deal with the epidemics of gastroenteritis that hit crowded Sydney streets in summer. It had 60 cots and also appears to have catered to lying-in mothers….

Hillcrest Hospital

Hillcrest Hospital was a maternity hospital in Curry Street, Merewether that was run by the Salvation Army from 1933. Previously, the institution was called the Maryville Mothers’ Hospital. Adoptions were arranged from Hillcrest. Hillcrest Hospital closed in 1977. Hillcrest Hospital was described in a newspaper article from 1939: “Hillcrest” nestles in the hills at Merewether,…

Maryville Mothers’ Hospital

Maryville Mothers’ Hospital, in Curry Street Merewether, was a maternity hospital run by the Salvation Army. As well as providing services to local women, this was a hospital from which adoptions were arranged. Maryville Mothers’ Hospital had its name changed to Hillcrest Mothers’ Hospital in 1933. Maryville Mothers’ Hospital was established in the building formerly…

Newcastle Maternity and Rescue Home

Newcastle Maternity and Rescue Home was opened in Albert Street, Islington (in Newcastle) in July 1897 and was also known as ‘The Lighthouse’. It provided accommodation for homeless girls and women, including unmarried mothers, and married mothers. In May 1924 it moved to Merewether, and became known as Maryville Mothers’ Hospital.

Royal Brisbane Hospital

The Brisbane General Hospital was established in 1867 on a parcel of land in Herston. In 1966 its name changed to the Royal Brisbane Hospital. In 2003, it merged with the Royal Women’s Hospital to form the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital (RBWH). The first facility at Brisbane General Hospital for patients with psychiatric issues…

Moira Private Hospital

The Moira Private Hospital in Sandringham was run by the Mission to the Streets and Lanes. It provided care to infants and children with developmental disabilities.