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Tasmania - Organisation

New Town Rest Home (1934 - 1936)

  • Orphan School, South Wing

    Orphan School, South Wing, 2009, courtesy of Friends of the Orphan School and St John's Park Precinct.
    Details

From
1934
To
1936
Categories
Disability Institution, Government-run and Home

The New Town Rest Home, run by the government, replaced the New Town Infirmary in August 1934. It provided accommodation to children and adults placed there for many different reasons. In 1936, New Town Rest Home became St John's Park.

Details

The government changed the name of the New Town Infirmary to the New Town Rest Home in an attempt to avoid the stigma of poverty associated with the institution.

The Home provided temporary accommodation to state wards and permanent accommodation for people who were elderly and infirm, with chronic illnesses, or who were certified under the Mental Deficiency Act 1920.

Location

1934 - 1936
Location - New Town Rest Home was off New Town Road, New Town. Location: New Town

Timeline

 1833 - 1879 Queen's Orphan Asylum
       1879 - 1912 New Town Charitable Institution
             1912 - 1934 New Town Infirmary
                   1934 - 1936 New Town Rest Home
                         1936 - 1994 St John's Park

Related Glossary Terms

Related Legislation

  • Mental Deficiency Act (1920 - 1963)

    Children and adults diagnosed with intellectual disabilities living at the New Town Rest Home were detained there under the Mental Deficiency Act.

Related Organisations

Publications

Books

  • Pearce, Kim and Doyle, Susan, New Town: a social history, Hobart City Council, Hobart, 2002, 144 pp. Details

Reports

  • Social Services and Children of the State Department: Report for 1934-5, Social Services and Children of the State Department, Hobart, 1935. Details
  • Social Services Department: report for the year ended 30th June 1936, Social Services Department, Hobart, 1936. Details

Photos

Queens Orphan Asylum New Town
Title
Queens Orphan Asylum New Town
Type
Image
Date
1863
Source
Tasmanian Images: Tasmanian Archive and Heritage Office

Details

Orphan School, North Wing
Title
Orphan School, North Wing
Type
Image
Date
2009
Publisher
Friends of the Orphan School and St John's Park Precinct

Details

Orphan School, South Wing
Title
Orphan School, South Wing
Type
Image
Date
2009
Publisher
Friends of the Orphan School and St John's Park Precinct

Details

Infant Orphan School
Title
Infant Orphan School
Type
Image
Date
2009
Publisher
Friends of the Orphan School and St John's Park Precinct

Details

Sources used to compile this entry: Social Services and Children of the State Department: Report for 1934-5, Social Services and Children of the State Department, Hobart, 1935; Social Services Department: report for the year ended 30th June 1936, Social Services Department, Hobart, 1936; Pearce, Kim and Doyle, Susan, New Town: a social history, Hobart City Council, Hobart, 2002, 144 pp.

Prepared by: Caroline Evans