St Mary’s Home was established in 1894 in West End for pregnant single girls and women and unwed mothers and their babies. The Home was opened by the Church of England and run by a committee with a matron in charge.
The residents operated a laundry on the site to generate income.
In 1897 Sandeman Nursery was opened in Wynnum, in conjunction with St Mary’s Home to take the babies from St Mary’s. It closed after a couple of years and it is likely this occurred at the same time as St Mary’s move to larger premises in Taringa, with children transferred back to St Mary’s Home to be with their mothers. The Brisbane Courier reported the Taringa property had room for “twelve women and twenty-four infants and children”.
In 1919 St Mary’s Home amalgamated with the Brisbane Female Refuge and relocated to Bent Street, Toowong becoming known as St Mary’s Home, Toowong.
From
1894
To
1919
Alternative Names
St Mary's Home, Taringa
St Mary's Church of England Rescue Home
Church of England Rescue Home
St Mary's Penitentiary Home
1899 - 1919
St Mary's Home was situated at Moggill Road, Taringa, Queensland (Building State unknown)
1894 - 1899
St Mary's Home was situated at Hardgrave Road, West End, Queensland (Building State unknown)
Subsequent