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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.

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…

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…

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…

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…

Blairgowrie

Blairgowrie, also known as No 1 Cottage, was the first home opened as part of the Burnside Presbyterian Orphan Homes. Its name changed to No 2 Cottage in 1914 when Airlie was opened and took the name Blairgowrie in 1925. It served as a boys’ home until 1912, then became a ‘kindergarten home’ for children…

Burnside

Burnside, formerly Burnside Homes for Children, was a Uniting Church Agency that ran foster care, family group homes and outreach programmes from 1986 until 2000. By 2000 Burnside had become one of the largest providers of child and family services in New South Wales, although it was no longer providing residential care on its site…

Burnside Homes for Children

The Burnside Homes for Children was the new name for Burnside Presbyterian Homes for Children. The name change occurred when the Uniting Church in Australia was formed and the Uniting Church Board of Responsibility took control of the Burnside Homes. From 1978 to 1986 residential care at the Burnside site in North Parramatta was wound…

Burnside Presbyterian Homes for Children

The Burnside Presbyterian Homes for Children was formally known as Burnside Presbyterian Orphan Homes. The name change occurred in 1955. Originally a complex of cottage homes, Burnside began to provide foster care and other sorts of care in the 1960s and 1970s. It changed its name to Burnside Homes for Children when the Uniting Church…

Burnside Presbyterian Orphan Homes

Burnside Presbyterian Orphan Homes, on Pennant Hills Road at North Parramatta, were children’s homes founded in 1911 by philanthropist Sir James Burns. Burnside pioneered cottage care in Australia and was a functioning village, with 14 cottages, all grand in scale, its own farm, hospital and school, and a gymnasium and swimming pool. In 1955 Burnside…