From 1972 The Sisters of Mercy, through St Catherine’s orphanage and Mercy Family Care, ran a number of family group homes in the Geelong area. When Mercy Family Care was amalgamated with MacKillop Family Services in 1997 MacKillop took over administration of the remaining family group homes. The family group homes housed children between approximately 2 and 15 years of age, with up to 10 children (including both state wards and the children of the cottage parents) living together in a home. The exact opening and closing dates for many of these homes are not yet known.
It was noted in a Social Welfare Department inspector’s report in the early 1970s that the parents of children living in the family group homes were permitted to visit at the homes, or at the main St Catherine’s site if additional supervision was determined by the Sisters to be necessary. It also stated that children could spend holidays with their parents or with holiday hosts, or remain in the group home if they preferred.
The report also raised concerns that 10 children living in a single home was too many, and resulted in over-crowding and excessive strain on the cottage parents. The Superintendent of St Catherine’s agreed that a maximum of eight children per house was a more appropriate number.
From
1972
To
2000s
1972 - c. 1976
The Sisters of Mercy ran a family group home at 4 Mountbatten Grove, Grovedale, Geelong, Victoria (Building Still standing)
1972 - 2000s
The Sisters of Mercy ran a family group home at 33 Upper Skene Street, Newtown, Geelong, Victoria (Building Demolished)
1972 - 2000s
The Sisters of Mercy ran a family group home at 13 Mernda Parade, Belmont, Geelong, Victoria (Building Still standing)
1973 - 1997?
The Sisters of Mercy ran a family group home at 40 Larcombe street, Highton, Geelong, Victoria (Building Still standing)
1973 - c. 1979
The Sisters of Mercy ran a family group home at 119 Noble Street, Newtown, Geelong, Victoria (Building Still standing)
1974 - 2000s
The Sisters of Mercy ran a youth hostel and adolescent residential unit at 53 Candover Street, West Geelong, Victoria (Building Still standing)
1975? - c. 1985
The Sisters of Mercy ran a family group home at 76 Ruhama Avenue, Bell Post Hill, Geelong, Victoria (Building Still standing)
1975? - 1979
The Sisters of Mercy ran a family group home at 80 Settlement Road, Belmont, Geelong, Victoria (Building State unknown)