Archives



Hope Cottage

Hope Cottage opened in 1887. It was a rescue home and lying-in home for single mothers giving birth to their first babies. It was established by Grace Soltau, the first president of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union. In 1892, management was handed over to the Church of England. Hope Cottage closed in 1896. The work…

Glen Dhu Babies’ Home

Glen Dhu Babies’ Home, run by the Children’s Protection Society, opened in about 1907. It accommodated the babies of single mothers. The Home closed in 1911. Glen Dhu had a high infant mortality rate with 19 babies dying there in 1909. At the inquest of one of them, the Medical Superintendent of Launceston General Hospital…

New Town Charitable Institution

The New Town Charitable Institution, run by the government, opened in 1879. From 1896, the Boys’ Training School and the offices of the Neglected Children’s Department were at the Institution. In 1912, it became the New Town Infirmary. The New Town Charitable Institution was housed in the former buildings of the Queen’s Orphan School after…

Royal Derwent Hospital

The Royal Derwent Hospital was established in 1968 when Millbrook Rise Psychopathic Hospital and Lachlan Park Hospital merged. It was in New Norfolk. In 1968, a new complex opened on the eastern side of the Lachlan River. The Royal Derwent Hospital closed in 2000. In a 1944 report, Dr Catarinich, Victoria’s Director of Mental Hygiene,…

Lachlan Park Hospital

Lachlan Park Hospital, run by the government, replaced the Mental Diseases Hospital in 1937. It was in New Norfolk. Lachlan Park was a secure mental asylum which, in addition to adults, held children and adolescents, including wards of State. In 1968, it became part of the Royal Derwent Hospital. Lachlan Park was on the western…

Garthfield Family Group Home

Garthfield Family Group Home, run by the government, opened in Claremont in about 1983. It provided temporary accommodation to children who were wards of state or supervised in other ways by the Social Welfare Department and its successors. The Home closed in about 1990. A married woman managed Garthfield Family Group Home with the assistance…

Summerhill Family Group Home

Summerhill Family Group Home, run by the government, opened in the 1980s. It was in West Hobart. The Home provided temporary accommodation to children who were wards of state or supervised in other ways by the Department of Community Welfare. Summerhill closed in about 1990. A married woman managed Summerhill Family Group Home with the…

Point Puer

Point Puer, run by the government, opened in 1834. It was at Oppossum Bay on the Tasman Peninsula. Point Puer was a reformatory for boys who had been transported from Britain. It closed in 1849. Point Puer was established by Governor Arthur to accommodate boys aged between 10 and 14. During the convict era, they…

Hobart City Mission

The Hobart City Mission was founded in 1852. Its brief was to spread the gospel to non-church goers in inner city working class communities. The Hobart City Mission is still active. Like the London City Mission, Hobart City Missioners were Protestant but non-denominational. They saw working class communities as a mission field because they seemed…

Anchorage Home

The Anchorage Home, run by the Ladies Christian Association, opened in 1889. It was initially in Hobart. Later it moved to New Town. The Home was for young single mothers having their first baby. It closed in 1920. The Anchorage Home opened on 17 September 1889 in Carr Street, off Argyle Street. The house had…