Archives



Office of the Director-General of Public Health

The Office of the Director-General of Public Health was a department created by the New South Wales Government in 1913 as part of the Chief Secretary’s Department. It had responsibility for government asylums for the infirm, which had previously been part of the Metropolitan Hospitals and Charities Department. It looked after public health areas such…

Inspector of Public Charities

The Inspector of Public Charities was a person appointed by the New South Wales Government under the Public Institutions Inspection Act 1866 to inquire into the management of all hospitals, infirmaries, orphan schools and charitable institutions that received government funds. In 1886 areas of responsibility that the Inspector of Public Charities reported upon included the…

Hospitals Commission of New South Wales

The Hospitals Commission of New South Wales was a board appointed by the New South Wales Government in 1929 to provide a complete hospital system. It did not run hospitals, as hospitals had their own boards and management. The duties of the Commission were to inspect hospitals, inquire into standards and hospital administration, determine which…

Department of Public Health, State Government of New South Wales

The New South Wales Department of Public Health was established as a separate ministerial department by the New South Wales Government in 1938. It held responsibility for general hospitals (previously under the Colonial Secretary’s Department), mental hospitals (previously under the Master of Lunacy), and the Office of Public Health. From 1965 this Department contained a…

The Spastic Centre of New South Wales

The Spastic Centre was a non-government organisation that supported children and adults with cerebral palsy, which was once known as ‘spastic paralysis’. It ran the New South Wales Hostel for Country Children at Allambie Heights from 1953. It was established in 1945 by a group of parents led by Neil and Audrie McLeod, whose daughter…

Spastic Centre Country Children’s Hostel

The Spastic Centre Country Children’s Hostel, also known as McLeod House and the New South Wales Hostel for Country Children, was a hostel for country children with cerebral palsy run by The Spastic Centre. A pilot hostel was established in Mosman in 1948 and a purpose-built facility opened in Allambie Heights in 1957. State wards…

Mittagong Cottage Homes Area

The Mittagong Cottage Homes Area is the site of various NSW Government institutions, including the former Mittagong Cottage Homes, Mittagong Farm Home, Mittagong Training Home and Renwick Child Welfare Homes. It was used continuously as a government child welfare institution, on the cottage system, from 1896 until 1994. The area is on Bong Bong Road,…

Orana Youth Hostel

Orana Youth Hostel was established by the Department of Youth and Community Services in Dulwich Hill around 1977. It is unclear when this home opened or closed. It appears to have been a hostel for boys.

Freeman Cottage

Freeman Cottage was opened in 1984 by the Wesley Mission as a family group home. It was located in Abbottsford. As at 2014, it is not clear when this home closed or whether it has.

Wesley Mission

Wesley Mission was the new name chosen by the Wesley Central Mission in 1993. It is a Wesleyan Methodist non-government organisation that continues the social welfare, charity and ministry work of the Wesley Central Mission (1977-1993) and the Central Methodist Mission (1884-1977). Wesley Mission is a major provider of welfare services, including Dalmar and Lifeline.