The Smith Family opened the Mount Arcadia Children's Home in 1933 as a 'recovery home for little children suffering from juvenile rheumatism and heart affections'. Public hospitals were unable to meet the needs of these patients, who required long months of convalescence: 'rest and still more rest is the secret of nursing these critical cases' (Barrier Daily Truth 17 March 1952). Mount Arcadia was the only hospital of its kind in Australia.
Mount Arcadia was located on a hillside off Pennant Hills Road, North Parramatta, overlooking the Burnside Presbyterian Orphan Homes.
Following a public appeal, new buildings were erected and the modern Mount Arcadia Hospital opened on the site in 1953. The renovation increased its capacity from 30 to 60 beds.
In 1958, Mount Arcadia was sold to the Tara Anglican School for Girls, which is still located on the site in 2018.
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Last updated:
08 November 2018
Cite this: http://www.findandconnect.gov.au/guide/nsw/NE01622
First published by the Find & Connect Web Resource Project for the Commonwealth of Australia, 2011
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