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Sydney Home for Babies

The Sydney Home for Babies was located at Waverley, in a large two-storey house on what was then called Nelson Bay Road and is now Bronte Road. Opened in February 1910 by Mrs Greig-Smith, founder of Sydney Norland Nurseries, it was ‘founded for the care of infants who are poor and whose mothers have to…

Eleanor MacKinnon Memorial Home

The Eleanor MacKinnon Memorial Home, at Cronulla, was run by the Australian Red Cross from 1951. It was a boys’ home that took in children whose families were in crisis, or who were experiencing health problems. The Eleanor MacKinnon Home closed in 1997. Eleanor MacKinnon Memorial Home was a boys’ home specialising in receiving children…

Glen Mervyn Junior Red Cross Home

The Glen Mervyn Red Cross Home at Randwick was operated by the Australian Red Cross from around 1973. It took in children whose families were experiencing a range of problems, or who were experiencing health problems. Glen Mervyn Junior Red Cross Home closed in 1992. From 1993, the site housed the Young Parents Program day…

Sydney Norland Nurseries

Sydney Norland Nurseries was a private children’s home that was opened in 1909 as part of the Norland Institute or Norland Nursing College. It operated in various sites in Sydney, including Waverley-Woollahra, Rose Bay and Ashfield-Summer Hill, from 1909 until the 1940s. In 1910 Norland Nurseries was licensed as an infants’ home by the State…

Winbin

Winbin, in Strathfield, sometimes referred to as Winbin Depot, was purchased by the Child Welfare Department in 1954 and converted to a children’s home. It provided short-term care for around 20 preschool-aged boys and girls. It was, at first, a disability institution. It had a kindergarten teacher on site. From 1974 four female wards lived…

Thornbury Lodge

Thornbury Lodge was a children’s and infants’ home established at Baulkham Hills in 1958 or 1959, by the Child Welfare Department. It was a receiving home, and was set up to increase facilities for children in transit from foster homes to hospitals, institutions or other placements as Bidura had become too crowded. Thornbury Lodge housed…

Mission Australia

Mission Australia was formed in 1996 when Sydney City Mission, Adelaide City Mission, Wollongong City Mission, Perth City Mission (also known as Jesus People Inc.), Brisbane City Mission, Mission Australia Northern New South Wales, Mission Australia Southern New South Wales, Mission Australia Group Training and Mission Employment all joined forces. It provides a range of…

Boys’ Town, Engadine

Boys’ Town Engadine was a children’s home run by the Salesians of Don Bosco. It was founded in 1939. It was a residential school for adolescent boys which also received some children transferred from the ACT. In 2010 Boys’ Town Engadine adopted the name Dunlea Centre. Boys’ Town was founded in 1939 by Father Thomas…

Bungarimbil Boys’ Home

Bungarimbil Boys’ Home was a small, cottage-style Home founded by the Church of England (Anglican) Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn at Tumbarumba in 1957. Some children were transferred from the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and placed in this Home. The property was bequeathed to the Church by Mrs Jean McLeod. Later, extra land was added…

Marella Aboriginal Temporary Care

Marella Aboriginal Temporary Care, was a programme for Aboriginal children run by Church of England Homes on behalf of the Anglican Diocese of Sydney. Marella Aboriginal Temporary Care was a family group home, located in Marrickville and staffed by Aboriginal people. It opened in 1979 and closed in the late 1990s. There was a second…