Some people may find content on this website distressing. Read more
New South Wales - Organisation

Thomas Street Asylum (1904 - 1911)

  • Thomas Street Asylum

    Thomas Street Asylum, 1904?, courtesy of Benevolent Society.
    Details

From
1904
To
1911
Categories
Benevolent Asylum, Home, Lying-in Home, Maternity Home and Non-denominational
Alternative Names
  • Benevolent Asylum

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.

Details

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.

Location

1904 - 1911
Address - Thomas Street Asylum was situated at 180 Thomas Street, Haymarket, Sydney. Location: Sydney

Timeline

 1904 - 1911 Thomas Street Asylum
       1911 - 1920 Renwick Hospital for Infants, Thomas Street

Related Organisations

Publications

Books

  • Rathbone, Ron, A Very Present Help: Caring for Australians Since 1813, State Library of New South Wales Press, Sydney, 1994, 237 pp. Details

Resources

  • Benevolent Society: 200 year celebration: Last 200, Benevolent Society, 2013. Details

Online Resources

Photos

Thomas Street Asylum
Title
Thomas Street Asylum
Type
Image
Date
1904?
Publisher
Benevolent Society

Details

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