Charlton Boys' Home, Ashfield

Charlton Boys’ Home, Ashfield was established in 1966 by the Anglican Home Mission Society. It had earlier been located in Glebe, and moved into a property that been formerly the Milleewa Boys’ Home. In the late 1970s this property became known as Robinson Home.

Charlton was run by the Anglican Home Mission Society, and the new home in Ashfield was a modernisation and streamlining of its activities. Charlton was intended to provide a home, care and assistance for older youths who had been through the Children’s Courts, and were approaching, or at, working age. Boys who were working age were expected to go out and work each day, while younger boys attended school.

Charlton Boys Home consisted of three buildings built at 16 Brunswick Parade Ashfield, on the former Milleewa boys home site. The buildings were named Milleewa, Robinson House, and Wright House. Milleewa was constructed in 1966 and had capacity for 21 boys. When Robinson House and Wright House  (also known as the ’round houses’ due to their circular construction) were opened in 1969 they increased the capacity of the home to 69. A swimming pool was also constructed at Ashfield in 1969.

Following the opening of Robinson House and Wright House, the Charlton Homes at Bowral and Castle Hill were moved to Ashfield. In the late 1970s the large homes devolved into smaller group homes, one of which was Robinson House. Carlton Boys’ Home was subsequently closed.