Children at play, Corelli, c. 1959, courtesy of New South Wales government.
Details
Corelli Babies' Home (known as 'Corelli') was opened around 1945 in Marrickville. It was a Child Welfare Department nursing home for around 20 toddlers. It was situated in a house called Corelli. Previously, it had been a Child Welfare Department home for unmarried mothers, (the Corelli Women's Hospital). By 1955 it seems most children sent to Corelli were disabled. Around 1970 Corelli was converted to a hostel for older children.
Corelli was located on Marrickville Road, near the corner of Livingstone Road.
According to Donald McLean, who reviewed Child Welfare Department homes in 1955, the Matron at Corelli was a triple-certificated nursing sister and dietitian, who nursed wards who were neglected and undernourished. It accommodated sixteen babies, aged 1 to 3. McLean said these children were disabled and unsuited to foster care.
1919 - c. 1945 Corelli Hospital for Women
c. 1945 - c. 1970 Corelli Babies' Home
1970 - 1991 Corelli
Sources used to compile this entry: McLean, Donald, Children In Need: An account of the administration and functions of the Child Welfare Department, New South Wales, Australia: with an examination of the principles involved in helping deprived and wayward children, Government Printer, Sydney, 1955, 173 pp.
Prepared by: Naomi Parry
Created: 22 August 2013, Last modified: 9 December 2013
Last updated: 4 August 2023
Cite this: https://www.findandconnect.gov.au/ref/nsw/biogs/NE01391b.htm
First published by the Find & Connect Web Resource Project for the Commonwealth of Australia, 2011
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