St Elizabeth’s Home for Girls was opened at Mayfield in 1926 as a home for orphan and destitute girls up to 16 years old, owned by by the Church of England Diocese at Newcastle. St Elizabeth’s Home for Girls was relocated to Singleton in 1942, and closed in 1977.
St Elizabeth’s Mayfield was located in a property owned by the Church of England Diocese of Newcastle. The house was built in 1886 and was once the residence of William Arnott, who named it Arnott Holme. In 1898 it was sold to Isaac Winn, who named it Winn Court. In 1921 it was sold to the Newcastle Diocese.
The house was first opened as a hostel in 1923 but the Diocese of Newcastle converted it to a girls’ home in 1926. The day to day management of the Home, including the care and supervision of children, was done by the Sisters of the Community of the Holy Name until 1937. The Church Army, a new organisation supported by the Diocese of Newcastle, was invited to take over the day to day management of St. Elizabeth’s in 1937, and oversaw day to day operations until 1961. From 1961 until its closure, staffing of the Home was provided directly by the Diocese.
During World War 2 the Mayfield location of St Elizabeth’s Home for Girls was determined to be vulnerable, and in 1942 the Home moved to Singleton. By December 1942 the girls of St Elizabeth’s had moved into what was initially intended to be their temporary new location in the grounds of the All Saints rectory between High Street and Bishopgate Street. However, by 1951, St Elizabeth’s position in Singleton had become permanent, and 26 girls were occupying the two-dormitory fibro building.
From
1926
To
1977
Alternative Names
St. Elizabeth's Girls' Home
1926 - 1942
St Elizabeth's Girls Home was situated at Crebert and Section Streets, Mayfield, New South Wales (Building Still standing)
1942 - 1977
St Elizabeth's Girls Home was situated on Bishopgate Street, Singleton, New South Wales (Building Still standing)
