Montrose Infants' Home

Montrose Infants’ Home was a home for preschool-aged children that was established in Burwood by the Child Welfare Department. Montrose had previously been a hostel for older children. It had a kindergarten programme and mostly took children who were being prepared for foster placement. However its use varied according to need, and four girls aged 15-18 lived there receiving ‘domestic training’ in the 1960s. Around 1978 Montrose was converted to Montrose Child Protection Centre.

Donald McLean reviewed Child Welfare Department homes in 1955 and wrote:

To stand and watch the children in ‘Montrose’ is to learn the efficacy of kindergarten work in developing that confidence which helps children towards happiness. The children received at ‘Montrose’ are the more normal type of pre-school child and most of them are placed in foster homes when they have recovered from the experiences which led to their admission to the Minister’s care.

The Child Welfare Department’s 1961 Annual Report noted the variety of young people who were resident there in that year:

It is appropriate that this establishment, which was originally used by the Department as a hostel for mothers and babies, now provides residential care for preschool wards. Children between the ages of 2 and 6 years remain at Montrose for varying periods until they are considered suitable for placement in foster homes. In addition to the younger children, there are four girls in the 15 to 18 years age group who receive domestic training.

In 2011 Montrose was a private residence.