St Joseph's Home for Destitute Children was originally situated in South Melbourne. The Home, at 61 Nelson Road, was established by the South Melbourne St Vincent de Paul Conference (or branch) in 1888.

Barnard and Twigg write that the purchase of the home in South Melbourne was sparked by concerns that non-Catholic child rescuers were taking Catholic children away from their faith.

On 15 April 1890, the government approved St Joseph's Home for Destitute Children as a place for receiving 'neglected' children under the Neglected Children's Act 1887, and it moved to larger premises in Montague Street, South Melbourne. The president of the committee, Charles Grondona, was thus authorised to apprehend and act as guardian for 'neglected' children.

A passage from the Catholic newspaper the Advocate in 1890 clearly demonstrates the 'child rescue' philosophy underpinning the operation of the Home:

One of the many good works … is the rescue of young children brought up in poverty and neglect amid evil surroundings, and providing them with a home until some situation can be found for them in the country or in some other place where they will be far away from their old haunts and separated from their old companions.

The Home's committee sought to find adoptive homes for rescued children, however a number of children (with at least one living parent) went from St Joseph's into Catholic orphanages.

In mid 1889, the Home moved to yet another South Melbourne building, this time in Beaconsfield Parade. In April 1890, the committee purchased a house in Kent Road, Surrey Hills, in a site which they described as 'in a beautiful and healthy situation'.

Throughout the whole period when it was under the management of the Society of St Vincent de Paul, the Home had suffered from financial problems. As a solution, Archbishop Carr invited the Sisters of St Joseph to take over the Home.

The Sisters assumed management of the Home on 21 May 1890, initially working under the St Vincent committee.

In 1997, records of the Sisters of St Joseph were transferred to MacKillop Family Services. These included records of the various orphanages, homes and other residences run by the Sisters of St Joseph and its predecessors. While custodianship of the records about people in 'care' became the responsibility of MacKillop Family Services at this point, it was formally agreed that the intellectual property in these records would not change hands.

Location

1888

St Joseph's Home for Destitute Children is located in 61 Nelson Road, South Melbourne. Location: South Melbourne

1889

In mid 1889, the Home moves to Beaconsfield Parade, South Melbourne. Location: South Melbourne

1890

St Joseph's Home for Destitute Children is located in Montague Street, South Melbourne. Location: South Melbourne

April 1890

In April 1890, the committee purchases a house in Kent Road, Surrey Hills. Location: Surrey Hills