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New South Wales - Organisation

Montrose Maternity Hospital (c. 1920 - c. 1935)

  • Montrose Maternity Hospital, Burwood

    Montrose Maternity Hospital, Burwood, February 1920, courtesy of State Library of New South Wales.
    Details

From
c. 1920
To
c. 1935
Categories
Babies' Home, Government-run, Home, Lying-in Home and Maternity Home
Alternative Names
  • Montrose
  • Montrose Infants' Home
  • Montrose Maternity Hospital (1920 - 1940)

Montrose was a house in Burwood that was turned into a maternity hospital and infants' home in 1920 by the State Children's Relief Department, caring for unmarried mothers and their babies, and infants who were state wards. By 1936 it had been converted to Montrose Hostel by the Child Welfare Department.

Details

Montrose was one of a number of homes established by the State Children's Relief Board under the Infant Life Protection Act 1904 to assist young unmarried mothers and to nurse 'illegitimate' babies. The State Children's Relief Board hoped that keeping babies together with their mothers would help the mothers breastfeed and get the babies through the first months and years of life. Babies whose mothers could not nurse them were extremely vulnerable, leading to high rates of infant mortality. The mothers in the home could also help care for infants who had been separated from their own mothers and were in state care.

Location

1920s - 1935s
Location - Montrose Maternity Home was situated on Lucas Road, Burwood. Location: Burwood

Publications

Newspaper Articles

Reports

Online Resources

Photos

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

Details

Montrose Maternity Hospital, Burwood:
Title
Montrose Maternity Hospital, Burwood: "B" ward, 8 beds
Type
Image
Date
February 1920
Source
State Library of New South Wales

Details

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

Details

Montrose Maternity Hospital, Burwood:
Title
Montrose Maternity Hospital, Burwood: "A" ward, 4 beds
Type
Image
Date
February 1920
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: Report of the State Children's Relief Board, W.A. Gullick, Government Printer, Sydney, 1894-1920. Also available at https://www.opengov.nsw.gov.au/main; 'Catholic Women's Association: Charitable and Social Activities', The Catholic Press, 14 May 1936, http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/106380402; 'Catholic Women's Association: Hospital Visitors' Activities', The Catholic Press, 10 September 1936, http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/106380489; 'New Parents for "Nobody's Child"', The Sydney Morning Herald, 7 August 1939, p. 12. Also available at http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17609288.

Prepared by: Naomi Parry