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New South Wales - Organisation

Montrose Infants' Home (c. 1949 - c. 1978)

  • Montrose Infants Home, Burwood

    Montrose Infants Home, Burwood, 3 August 1949, courtesy of State Library of New South Wales.
    Details

From
c. 1949
To
c. 1978
Categories
Babies' Home, Children's Home, Government-run and Home
Alternative Names
  • Montrose

Montrose Infants' Home was a home for preschool-aged children that was established in Burwood by the Child Welfare Department. Montrose had previously been a hostel for older children. It had a kindergarten programme and mostly took children who were being prepared for foster placement. However its use varied according to need, and four girls aged 15-18 lived there receiving 'domestic training' in the 1960s. Around 1978 Montrose was converted to Montrose Child Protection Centre.

Details

Donald McLean reviewed Child Welfare Department homes in 1955 and wrote:

To stand and watch the children in 'Montrose' is to learn the efficacy of kindergarten work in developing that confidence which helps children towards happiness. The children received at 'Montrose' are the more normal type of pre-school child and most of them are placed in foster homes when they have recovered from the experiences which led to their admission to the Minister's care.

The Child Welfare Department's 1961 Annual Report noted the variety of young people who were resident there in that year:

It is appropriate that this establishment, which was originally used by the Department as a hostel for mothers and babies, now provides residential care for preschool wards. Children between the ages of 2 and 6 years remain at Montrose for varying periods until they are considered suitable for placement in foster homes. In addition to the younger children, there are four girls in the 15 to 18 years age group who receive domestic training.

In 2011 Montrose was a private residence.

Location

c. 1950 - c. 1976
Location - Montrose was situated at Lucas Road, Burwood. Location: Burwood

Publications

Books

  • 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. Details

Reports

Photos

Montrose Maternity Hospital, Burwood
Title
Montrose Maternity Hospital, Burwood
Type
Image
Date
February 1920
Source
State Library of New South Wales

Details

Montrose Infants Home, Burwood
Title
Montrose Infants Home, Burwood
Type
Image
Date
3 August 1949
Control
From NSW Govt Printer series - Child Welfare Dept
Source
State Library of New South Wales

Details

Montrose Infants Home, Burwood
Title
Montrose Infants Home, Burwood
Type
Image
Date
3 August 1949
Source
State Library of New South Wales

Details

Montrose Infants Home, Burwood
Title
Montrose Infants Home, Burwood
Type
Image
Date
3 August 1949
Source
State Library of New South Wales

Details

Montrose Child Protection Unit Burwood
Title
Montrose Child Protection Unit Burwood
Type
Image
Date
7 June 1979
Source
State Library of New South Wales

Details

Sources used to compile this entry: Child Welfare Department, Annual Report: Child Welfare Department of New South Wales, New South Wales government, 1923-1970. Also available at https://www.opengov.nsw.gov.au/main; 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 and Liam Hogan