Green Wood

Green Wood was established in 1951, in Normanhurst, by Dr Barnardo’s in Australia to care for siblings who came from England as part of the child migration scheme. Green Wood accommodated 44 boys and 22 girls and comprised a group of homes on an 11 acre site. It closed in 1966 and two Barnardo’s family group homes opened on the same site.

Green Wood was named in tribute to the late A.W. Green, a founder of the Barnardos work in New South Wales.

Originally Barnardos had intended for Green Wood to let siblings live in the same building, to create more of a traditional family environment, but due to strict regulations on boys and girls being raised in institutions they were unable to do so. Instead they compromised on boys and girls living in different buildings, but on the same site, and being able to interact at breakfast. The children were sent to a variety of local schools.

Barnardos Australia history of the child migration program (c.2014) stated that ‘three cottages cared for children aged 10 upwards who attended local schools and later went on to positions in shops or offices or were apprenticed in the area.’

In 1958 allegations of sexual abuse at another Barnardo’s Home, Mowbray Park, became public, and concern was expressed that similar abuse could have occurred at Green Wood as well. An investigation conducted by Barnardo’s Australia, the Child Welfare Department, and New South Wales Police resulted in several arrests in connection to Mowbray Park, however no evidence of abuse at Green Wood was uncovered.