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St Catherine’s Orphanage

St Catherine’s Orphanage was a children’s home run by the Sisters of Mercy at Brooklyn, on the Hawkesbury River. St Catherine’s Orphanage had been St Carthage’s College for Young Ladies. It was primarily a girls’ home, although some of the girls’ brothers lived in the home while they were young. It closed in 1990. St…

Sisters of Mercy, North Sydney Congregation

The Sisters of Mercy, North Sydney Congregation, is a Catholic order of nuns established in Sydney 1865. They were responsible for the administration of St Carthage’s College for Young Ladies (1907-1931), St Catherine’s Home, Brooklyn (1931-1990) and Waitara Foundling Home (later known as Our Lady of Mercy Home from 1898 to 1977. It also ran…

St Patrick’s Homes

St Patrick’s Homes, run by the Sisters of Mercy, were formed in 1976 when the remaining children from St Patrick’s Orphanage were moved to two cottages in Armidale. The cottages closed in 1984.

Sisters of Mercy, Gunnedah Congregation

The Sisters of Mercy, Gunnedah Congregation was a Catholic religious order of women who arrived in Gunnedah in 1887 from Singleton. The sisters were responsible for the administration of St Patrick’s Orphanage (later called St Patrick’s Home and St Patrick’s Homes) Armidale. In 2011, the Sisters of Mercy, Gunnedah Congregation was dissolved and merged with…

St Patrick’s Orphanage

St Patrick’s Orphanage, run by the Sisters of Mercy, was located at the end of O’Connor Road, Armidale from 1919 until 1983. When it closed the remaining children were moved to two cottages in Armidale which were known as St Patrick’s Homes.

St Joseph’s Cowper Children’s Homes

St Joseph’s Cowper Children’s Homes was established in 1972 following the relocation of St Joseph’s Orphanage to North Street, Grafton. In 1993 the service became known as St Joseph’s Cowper. In 1972, the St Joseph’s Orphanage relocated to a site in North Street, Grafton and became known as St Joseph’s Cowper Children’s Homes. This change…

St Joseph’s Cowper Incorporated

St Joseph’s Cowper is a Catholic out-of-home care agency that was established in 1993. It was formerly known as St Joseph’s Cowper Children’s Homes. In 2013 it was known as St Joseph’s Cowper Inc and was a residential and foster care agency for children and young people placed in the care of the Minister by…

Sisters of Mercy, Grafton Congregation

The Sisters of Mercy, Grafton Congregation, a Catholic religious order of women from England and Ireland, was established in 1884. The sisters were responsible for the administration of St Joseph’s Cowper Incorporated, Grafton formerly known as Cowper Orphanage and St Joseph’s Cowper Children’s Home. In 2011, the Sisters of Mercy, Grafton Congregation was dissolved and…

St Joseph’s Orphanage, Cowper

St Joseph’s Orphanage Cowper, outside Grafton, was opened on 18 January 1914 by the Sisters of Mercy. The original clients were ‘poor and destitute’ children from families who were suffering during the economic downturn and parent loss during World War I. In 1972 the agency relocated to a site in North Street, Grafton and became…

St John’s Orphanage, Thurgoona

St John’s Orphanage was founded by the Albury Foundation of the Sisters of Mercy in 1882 at Thurgoona. It was also known as St John’s Home, Wirlinga. The Orphanage first housed girls aged 5 to 16 years and later accommodated 30 British war orphans. In later years it cared for both boys and girls. From…