Berry Street (1994 - )

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Berry Street came into being in 1994, when Berry Street Incorporated amalgamated with Sutherland Child, Youth and Family Services. The Berry Street name is taken from the street in East Melbourne where the organisation was based up until 2000. The heritage of Berry Street dates back to 1877 and the foundation of the Victorian Infant Asylum.

Sutherland Child, Youth and Family Services was formerly known as Sutherland Homes for Children, established in 1909.

The early years of the new Berry Street organisation saw changes at the former site of Sutherland Homes in Diamond Creek. From 1994, this campus was known as 'Berry Street / Diamond Creek'.

On 18 September 1995, one of the residential units at Berry Street / Diamond Creek, 'Meglin Cottage', was destroyed in a bushfire. A staff member, Eddie Scoleri, was killed. A 16-year old resident was hospitalised for burns and smoke inhalation. A memorial plaque to Scoleri was placed in the Berry Street board room.

Following the fires, the other residents of Meglin Cottage were relocated into the community. Then, residents of Callaway Cottage were relocated. The last residents left the Berry Street / Diamond Creek campus in January 1997.

The Diamond Creek property, which was used for office space from 1997, was finally sold in March 1999. The site at Diamond Creek had been 'home' for thousands of people. Former residents, staff and community members attended an open weekend to 'Say Farewell to Sutherland Homes' on 26 and 27 February, 2000.

In 2006, following the Inquiry into Children in Institutional Care, Berry Street issued an unreserved apology 'for any physical, psychological, sexual or social harm that may have occurred to children and young people in our care'.

Berry Street is the custodian of records from its predecessor institutions and agencies, and those of Sutherland Child, Youth and Family Services. Former residents can contact its Heritage & Background Information Service to access personal information about themselves held by Berry Street.