The Thomas Street Asylum was established by the Benevolent Society of New South Wales in 1904. It was the only hospital in the city for destitute and homeless mothers nursing their infants. The Asylum also cared for orphans and foundlings who were usually discharged to the care of the State Children's Relief Department. In 1911 Thomas Street Asylum became the Renwick Hospital for Infants.
The Thomas Street Asylum was a new Asylum built by the Benevolent Society of New South Wales on the corner of Thomas Street and Quay Street, Ultimo, near Central Station in Sydney.
The majority of women housed in Thomas Street Asylum were young, unmarried mothers. In 1911, the Asylum underwent alterations and wards providing for the treatment of sick infants were added. This new hospital was renamed the Renwick Hospital for Infants and was opened on 3 July 1911.
1904 - 1911 Thomas Street Asylum
1911 - 1920 Renwick Hospital for Infants, Thomas Street
Sources used to compile this entry: Rathbone, Ron, A Very Present Help: Caring for Australians Since 1813, State Library of New South Wales Press, Sydney, 1994, 237 pp; Thinee, Kristy and Bradford, Tracy, Connecting Kin: Guide to Records, A guide to help people separated from their families search for their records [completed in 1998], New South Wales Department of Community Services, Sydney, New South Wales, 1998, https://clan.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/connectkin_guide.pdf.
Prepared by: Naomi Parry
Created: 18 March 2011, Last modified: 30 April 2014