The Salvation Army established the Fallen Sisters Home, in Carlton, in early 1884. It accommodated women recently released from prison. It closed in around 1886.
The Carlton Refuge was a non-denominational institution established in 1857 to ‘reform’ women working in prostitution. From 1860 the Refuge accommodated mothers and their babies, and over time offered care to ‘neglected’ children, training in mothercraft and other related services. The Refuge closed in 1949. The Carlton Refuge was a non-denominational institution established in 1857,…
The Craig Memorial Hostel, Camberwell, was established by Presbyterian Church in around 1926. It accommodated young women studying away from home. The Hostel closed in around 1929 and became the Presbyterian Babies’ Home. The Craig Memorial Hostel was situated in the mansion ‘Linda’, the former home of WJ Craig. His daughter donated the property to…
Regent House was a Presbyterian girls’ home. It was first established in 1907, in West Brunswick, when it was known as the Presbyterian Girls’ Home. In 1909 it relocated to larger premises in Regent Street, Elsternwick. From at least the 1950s, it was known as Regent House and it was a hostel for young women….
The Cottage By The Sea was established in 1895. It initially housed convalescing children for two or three week stays, but over time received children in general need. Since 2010, Cottage By The Sea provides short-term relief care for children whose families are experiencing difficulties. The ‘Cottage By The Sea’ was established to provide care…
In 1991 the Copelen Street Family Centre was renamed Copelen Child and Family Services. In 1998, it merged with Grassmere Youth Services to form a new organisation known as Copelen.
McAuley House was established by the Sisters of Mercy in 1942. It was a hostel for around 15 young women. The hostel was closed and the property sold in 1965. McAuley House was established by the Sisters of Mercy in 1942 (Catherine McAuley founded the Order in Ireland in 1831). The Sisters saw the need…
The Home of Hope for Destitute Children, Collingwood was established by Charles M. Cherbury in 1880. It housed about 45 children at a time. From 1890, the Home also operated a ‘sanatorium’ in Ocean Grove, where children went for regular ‘holidays’. Both properties were sold in the 1920s, and Home of Hope closed in around…
The Catholic Social Service Bureau was established in 1935 by Archbishop of Melbourne Daniel Mannix. One of the Bureau’s functions was to administer applications for children to be admitted to the many Catholic children’s homes in Victoria. It also counselled unmarried mothers and arranged foster care placements and adoptions. In 1956, it changed its name…
The Adoption Information Service, Uniting – Connections began in 1984 with the introduction of the Victorian Adoption Act, which provided for the first time rights to the parties to adoption to access to information. Adopted persons, adoptive parents, parents who have relinquished their child and other family members can obtain information about an adoption organised…