Archives



War Memorial Home

War Memorial Home was opened as part of the Burnside Presbyterian Orphan Homes in April 1922 at North Parramatta, as a memorial to soldiers killed in World War I. It was one of the larger homes at Burnside, and was built to accommodate 70 children. It was a girls’ home until 1937, then became a…

Son of the Rock

Son of the Rock was opened as part of the Burnside Presbyterian Orphan Homes in April 1920 at North Parramatta. Son of the Rock, along with the other Burnside Presbyterian Orphan Homes for Children, was evacuated during World War II. It remained a cottage home until 1979.

Ivanhoe

Ivanhoe was opened as an infants’ home as part of the Burnside Presbyterian Orphan Homes in January 1919 at North Parramatta. Children were evacuated from Burnside from 1942 to 1945, owing to World War II. When they returned Ivanhoe became a boys’ home. In 1950 it was converted to a girls’ home. In 1981 it…

Robertson

Robertson was opened as part of the Burnside Presbyterian Orphan Homes in January 1919 at North Parramatta. It was originally a boys’ home, with a capacity for 30-40 children. It remained a cottage home until 1977 when it was converted to administration offices. Robertson, like all the Burnside Presbyterian Orphan Homes for Children, was evacuated…

Glencoe

Glencoe was a children’s home that was opened as part of the Burnside Presbyterian Orphan Homes in 1918 at North Parramatta. Glencoe, along with the other Burnside Presbyterian Orphan Homes for Children, was evacuated during World War II. It remained a cottage home until 1949.

Novar

Novar was opened as part of the Burnside Presbyterian Orphan Homes in April 1916 at North Parramatta.In 1942, Novar, with all the Burnside Presbyterian Orphan Homes for Children, was evacuated for the duration of World War II. It remained a cottage home until 1952.

Eskdale

Eskdale was opened as part of the Burnside Presbyterian Orphan Homes in November 1915 at North Parramatta. It was the fourth home at Burnside, and held 60 girls. It was not used for residential care after 1953. With the rest of Burnside’s cottages, ‘Eskdale’ was evacuated for the war in 1942. When the children returned…

Airlie

Airlie was opened as part of the Burnside Presbyterian Orphan Homes in December 1914 at North Parramatta. It was originally the Administrative Block but in 1917 became a playschool for 40-50 children. By 1919 it was a home for kindergarten-aged children. It was a boys’ home in the 1930s. In 1971 it was converted to…

Dunkeld

Dunkeld was opened as part of the Burnside Presbyterian Orphan Homes in May 1913 at North Parramatta. It was initially a boys’ home then became a girls’ home from 1919. In 1942, Dunkeld, along with the rest of the Burnside Presbyterian Orphan Homes for Children, was evacuated during World War II, Dunkeld served as Supplies…

Cumbrae

Cumbrae was opened as part of the Burnside Presbyterian Orphan Homes in September 1912 at North Parramatta. It was the second cottage built at Burnside and was a girls’ home. It was built to resemble a ‘normal’ home and remained a girls’ home until 1984. It then became Cumbrae Therapeutic Unit, a residential programme for…