Archives



Boys’ Home

The Boys’ Home was established in April 1890 in the South Brisbane home of Mr and Mrs Thompson. It was run by a Committee of private citizens. In late 1897 it moved to a property named ‘Rowallan’ at 84 Kedron Park Road, Wooloowin. In 1906, under Canon EC Osborn, the home moved to a nine-acre…

Brisbane Servants’ Home

The Brisbane Servants’ Home, 166 Ann Street, Brisbane, was established by Lady Bowen and a group of private citizens in 1865 (including Mary Ann Douglas, wife of Legislative Assembly member John Douglas). It provided a home for single adult females who had migrated to Queensland and were awaiting employment as domestic servants. The building was…

Heytesbury Family Group Home

Heytesbury Family Group Home was operated by the Peirson Memorial Trust. Located in Goodwood, Heytesbury provided residential care for approximately 22 young boys 12 to 17 years of age. It was situated on the same property as Redcliffe Home, also run by Peirson Memorial Trust. Heytesbury opened in 1968 and closed June 1977. It then…

St Ann’s Industrial School

St Ann’s Industrial School (for girls) in Brisbane was established in 1868, by the Sisters of Mercy. It consisted of a number of rented premises which housed the school and provided accommodation. The Industrial School was bound by Wickham, Ann and Gotha Streets, Fortitude Valley. The location in 2014 was known as Centenary Place. In…

St Christopher’s Lodge

St Christopher’s Lodge, situated at Brookfield, was operated by the Church of England, under the management of the Reverend Robert Bates and a ladies’ committee. It opened in 1934 and accommodated boys only. The Home closed in the late 1950s and later became known as the Anglican Franciscan Friary. The rector of All Saints, Wickham…

Catholic Daughters Holiday Home

The Catholic Daughters Holiday Home, in Sandgate, was run by the Catholic Daughters of Australia. It began operating in 1930 to provide a seaside holiday for disadvantaged children. The Catholic Daughters rented homes each Christmas holiday period for this purpose, resulting in the Home moving each year. Plans to build their own holiday home in…

Sandeman Nursery

The Sandeman Nursery at Wynnum operated in conjunction with St Mary’s Home. It opened in 1897 and was run by the Anglican Society of the Sacred Advent. It accommodated babies born to women at St Mary’s, who were awaiting adoption or transfer to the Good Shepherd Home at Nundah. Sandeman Nursery closed in 1898 and…

Jessie Street Family Group Home

Jessie Street Family Group Home, in Rockhampton, was operated by the the Sisters of Mercy. It was purchased in January 1978. Children from St Joseph’s Home, Neerkol, were transferred to the home. It was unoccupied from June 1984 and the approved bed numbers were reduced to nil in January 1985.

Ward Street Family Group Home

Ward Street Family Group Home, in Rockhampton, was operated by the Sisters of Mercy. It was purchased in June 1977 and opened 12 October 1977. Children from St Joseph’s Home, Neerkol, were transferred to the home. It closed early 1979.

Reformatory School for Boys, Lytton

The Reformatory School for Boys, Lytton was run by the State Government of Queensland. Boys under the age of 18 years were sentenced to a term of confinement at the reformatory by Children’s Courts. It opened 1881 when inmates from the hulk Proserpine were transferred to the new land-based reformatory. It closed 1899 when the…