Charlton Memorial Home

Charlton Memorial Home, also known as Charlton Boys’ Home, was established in Glebe by the Home Mission Society in 1942. It was a Church of England home that primarily dealt with boys who had appeared in Children’s Courts, but also took girls. It held up to 40 young people, ranging in age from seven to 18. It was located in a building called ‘Avona’, which had previously been part of the Church Rescue Home. In 1966 Charlton Memorial Home moved to Ashfield.

The Home was named after Archdeacon Charlton, who a former head of the Home Mission Society. A 1945 Sydney Morning Herald article said Charlton home was established for children attending the Children’s Court and was for “child delinquents and ‘those who might become such without proper care and education’.”

According to its annual reports, the Home Mission Society ran a chaplaincy at the Children’s Courts, supporting non-Catholic children and their families during hearings and providing support to boys and girls who were placed on probation, or sent to reformatories.

In 1944 the Home Mission Society said Charlton was an example of its ‘Special Centre Work’, which was supporting children appearing before the Children’s Courts. The Society stated

… many of the cases which come before the Court can only be helped by taking them out of the homes in which they have become a social problem.

The Society said that Charlton was open day and night but boys and girls rarely absconded. Children were referred to it by the police, the Child Guidance Clinic and the Court.

Charlton began in Avona Avenue in Glebe, but expanded to take in neighbouring properties at the corner of Forsyth Street and Glebe Road (Charlton Way). By 1959 it had its own printery and workshop.

Charlton Boys’ Home Glebe was sold in 1966 and moved to Ashfield, to what had been Milleewa.