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Koinonia

Koinonia was a maternity home (also known as Life Life Home for Unmarried Mothers) in Graceville run by the Methodist Church. It opened in around 1967 and had closed by 1978 when the property was sold by the Methodist Church. Koinonia was located in a substantial building called Glenrae in Bank Road, Graceville which was…

Madonna House

Madonna House was a “rest home for mothers and children in necessitous circumstances” located in Scarborough. It was run by the Catholic Daughters of Australia, under the management of the Sisters of St Joseph. The Catholic Daughters of Australia (CDA) had run holiday homes for children at Sandgate from 1930 until 1950. In 1950, the…

Presbyterian Home for Mothers and Babies

The Presbyterian Home for Mothers and Babies (also known as Koolkuna) was located in Redcliffe. The Home opened in around 1968 and continued to operate until around 1974. After it closed, it was converted by the Presbyterian Church into a Family Care Home, and later a refuge to provide emergency care and support to women…

Margaret Hallstrom Home for Unmarried Mothers

The Margaret Hallstrom Home for Unmarried Mothers opened in Marion Street, Leichhardt in 1968 by the Central Methodist Mission. The exact closing date of the Margaret Hallstrom Home for Unmarried Mothers is unknown, but it is believed to have closed around 1977. The need for a new Home for unmarried pregnant women was identified in…

St Vincent’s Hostel

St Vincent’s Hostel was opened in 1924 by the Christian Brothers in Albert Park for boys who had been apprenticed in the city but could not afford to pay private board. St Vincent’s Hostel closed in June 1967. Despite objections to the hostel opening by neighbours, on 24 August 1924 St Vincent’s Hostel opened at…

St Ann’s Reformatory for Protestant Girls

St Ann’s was established on 3rd March 1896 as a sub-reformatory of the Brookside Reformatory for Protestant Girls. Like the Brookside Reformatory, St Ann’s provided reformatory training to girls prior to them being sent to domestic service placements. It was located on a farm a few miles from Heywood in Western Victoria, and was variously…

Benevolent Institution for Aboriginal Children

The Benevolent Institution for Aboriginal Children was opened in April 1847 by the Sisters of Mercy, Perth Congregation as a Home for Indigenous children or non-Indigenous children considered to be orphaned or destitute. It was a small institution and soon became only for girls. In 1849, a small cottage was built, and 12 girls were…

Citizens Welfare Service Hostel for Girls, Kew

The Citizens Welfare Service Hostel for Girls, at 10 Fernhurst Grove, Kew, opened in 1964. It accommodated young women experiencing family problems, as well as young women who had spent their childhood in institutions and had ‘little experience of family life’. Up to 10 young women could be at the hostel at any one time….

St Vincent de Paul Orphanage for Boys

On 2 June 1874 the the Christian Brothers opened St Vincent de Paul Orphanage for Boys in South Melbourne. The Orphanage was created following the split of the St Vincent de Paul Orphanage into two, boys’ and girls’ orphanages. In 1967, the Orphanage became the St Vincent de Paul Boys’ Home. Since closing, the St…

Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind

The Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind, which was known as The Victorian Asylum and School for the Blind until 1891, opened in Melbourne in 1866. Its aim was to provide accommodation, school and occupational training for up to 120 blind and vision impaired children and adults. It was initially located in a rented house…