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St Vincent de Paul Orphanage

The St Vincent de Paul Orphanage was established in 1857 in Emerald Hill, now known as South Melbourne, by the St Vincent de Paul Society. The Orphanage was established to care for Catholic children who were orphaned, or considered abandoned, destitute or neglected. In 1861 the Sisters of Mercy took over the running of the…

St Augustine’s Orphanage

St Augustine’s Orphanage, Highton, was established in 1939 by the Christian Brothers on a large farming property of approximately 180 acres located on South Valley Road, Highton, Geelong. It accommodated boys aged between 9 and 16. In 1966, the Orphanage changed its name to St Augustine’s Boys’ Home. In 1939, following several years of campaigning…

St Joseph’s Home for Children, Sisters of St Joseph

St Joseph’s Home for Children was the new name given in 1967 to the former St Joseph’s Home for Boys. It provided accommodation for boys aged from 2 to 10 years, and girls aged 2 to 12 years old. In 1981, the Home relocated to Flemington and provided emergency and short-term residential care and family…

Colac Foster Care

Colac Foster Care was established and run by the Sisters of Mercy in around 1975.

Geelong Foster Care

Geelong Foster Care was established and run by the Sisters of Mercy in 1974. Geelong Foster Care operated until 1997. In 1972 and 1973 as policy changed towards shifting to smaller, community-based facilities the Sisters of Mercy purchased six local residences to establish family group homes. By 1975 children still residing at St. Catherine’s Children’s…

Mercy Family Care Centre

Mercy Family Care Centre in North Geelong was established by the Sisters of Mercy, following the closure of St Catherine’s Children’s’ Home in Highton in 1975. The Centre provided a family-focused model of care, including foster care, residential care, educational services and family support. In July 1997, Mercy Family Care became part of MacKillop Family…

St Joseph’s Babies’ Home

St Joseph’s Babies Home in Glenroy was established in 1975, when the Sisters of St Joseph closed their Foundling Hospital in Broadmeadows. The Glenroy Home established a foster care service, primarily to provide pre-adoptive placements. In 1985, it became part of the new St Joseph’s Babies’ and Family Service, established when the sisters closed the…

St Joseph’s Foundling Hospital

St Joseph’s Foundling Hospital was established by the Sisters of St Joseph in May 1901 at Broadmeadows. It was also known as the Broadmeadows Babies Home. It housed babies and children up to the age of three and a half, some older children and expectant mothers. The Hospital also trained mothercraft nurses. It closed in…

St Joseph’s Home for Destitute Children, The Society of St Vincent de Paul

St Joseph’s Home for Destitute Children was established by the South Melbourne St Vincent de Paul Conference (or branch) in 1888. It accommodated girls and boys aged from around 2 to 13. In 1890, the Home was relocated to Kent Road, Surrey Hills and came under the control of the Sisters of St Joseph. St…

St Joseph’s Home for Boys

St Joseph’s Home for Boys in Surrey Hills was the new name given in 1925 to the St Joseph’s Home for Destitute Children. It accommodated boys aged between 4 and 12. In around 1967, the name changed to St Joseph’s Home for Children. In his book, Patrick Wheatley-Kenyon recalled the meals he had as a…