Lisa Lodge

Lisa Lodge was the new name given to the Home formerly known as Hayeslee House, sometime around 1994. It was run by the Lisa Lodge – Hayeslee Committee who managed a number of institutions in the Ballarat region. In July 2012 Lisa Lodge merged with Berry Street, to strengthen Berry Street’s services provided in the Grampians Region of Victoria.

From the 1990s, Lisa Lodge comprised a number of programs. These included what had been known as Hayeslee House but also became known as Lisa Lodge from around 1994, a unit for male and female adolescents at 17 Clarkson Street Sebastapol.

Lisa Lodge successfully tendered to establish a women’s refuge in 1996, which was called ‘Gwens’.

In 2001, work began on a new, purpose-built unit for adolescents at 19 Clarkson Street, Sebastapol. The property that was formerly Lisa Lodge Girls’ Hostel in Barkly Street Ballarat was used as office space. Barkly Street was renovated in 2004 to include more offices and staff facilities for Lisa Lodge.

In 2006, the organisation purchased 605 Peel Street North, planning to establish 4 one-bedroom units (it was fully occupied by March 2008). In November, another property at 253A Victoria Street was purchased. Initially it was called the SPARE house (Specialised Placement Alternative for Regional Emergencies).

In 2009, it was decided to separate genders at the Sebastopol unit – young women were moved from Clarkson Street to Victoria Street, Ballarat and boys stayed on at Clarkson Street.

In 2012, the Lisa Lodge board decided to merge with Berry Street. At a meeting in February 2012, the Board expressed concern about the merger’s effect on Lisa Lodge’s level of community support and the loss of the history of this iconic agency. However Berry Street was said to be a suitable agency to merge with, as a recognised practice leader and proven regional provider, and big enough to allow Lisa Lodge to continue to provide its existing services. The merger took place later in 2012.