Some people may find content on this website distressing. Read more
Victoria - Organisation

Presbyterian Babies' Home (1928 - 1977)

  • Presbyterian Babies' Home, 19 Canterbury Road Camberwell

    Presbyterian Babies' Home, 19 Canterbury Road Camberwell, by John T. Collins, courtesy of State Library of Victoria.
    Details

From
1928
To
1977
Categories
Adoption Agency, Babies' Home, Care Provider, Home, Presbyterian and Protestant

The Presbyterian Babies' Home opened in 1928 in East Melbourne. In around 1933, the Home relocated to Camberwell. It housed babies and children up to the age of four. In 1977, it became the Canterbury Family Centre.

Details

The Argus newspaper reported on the opening of The Presbyterian Babies' Home by Lady Stonehaven on 26 October 1928. It was located in a remodelled portion of the Old Scotch College, Lansdowne Street, East Melbourne.

The Babies' Home launched an appeal in 1929 to raise £5,000 to help its work 'caring for unwanted children'.

The Presbyterian Babies' Home relocated to Camberwell, to a former mansion known as 'Linda', donated to the Church in 1929.

The 'Linda' mansion, at 19 Canterbury Road, Camberwell was donated to the Presbyterian Church in 1925, by Elizabeth McNeill McCormick in 1925 in memory of her late father, WJ Craig.

The Babies' Home was invited to take over the Camberwell site in 1929. Previously, it housed a hostel for young women known as the Craig Memorial Hostel. This hostel closed after going into debt.

The foundation stone at the new Home was laid in June 1933. The Babies' Home was for children up to the age of four.

The Camberwell property was remodelled for its new tenants - babies were housed at the rear, and the Home's staff and administration were at the front, in the main house. The Babies' Home also provided mothercraft training.

In 1971, the Child Care Service of the Methodist and Presbyterian Churches was established. This led to a reorganisation of the adoption services of Presbyterian and Methodist Babies' Homes. From 1971, the arrangement of adoptions and supervision of placements was carried out by Methodist Babies' Home staff.

In 1977, the Presbyterian Babies' Home was renamed the Canterbury Family Centre. The Centre's director Carol Richards oversaw significant reforms, including the construction of four units on the grounds of the Home, where children and staff had immediate access to psychologist and social workers.

Location

1928 - c. 1933
Location - The Presbyterian Babies' Home was located in Lansdowne Street, East Melbourne. Location: East Melbourne
1933 - 1977
Address - The Presbyterian Babies' Home was located at 19 Canterbury Road, Camberwell. Location: Camberwell

Timeline

 1928 - 1977 Presbyterian Babies' Home
       1977 - 2000 Canterbury Family Centre
             2000 - 2017 Connections UnitingCare
                   2017 - 2020 Uniting - Connections
                         2017 - Uniting (Victoria and Tasmania) Limited

Related Glossary Terms

Related Organisations

Publications

Reports

Online Resources

Photos

Presbyterian Babies' Home, 19 Canterbury Road Camberwell
Title
Presbyterian Babies' Home, 19 Canterbury Road Camberwell
Type
Image
Creator
John T. Collins
Source
State Library of Victoria

Details

Presbyterian Babies Home, Lansdowne Street, East Melbourne, with Scotch College Chapel in background
Title
Presbyterian Babies Home, Lansdowne Street, East Melbourne, with Scotch College Chapel in background
Type
Image
Date
1933

Details

Care of Babies
Title
Care of Babies
Type
Image
Date
31 July 1933
Source
The Argus

Details

Wattle Day in the City
Title
Wattle Day in the City
Type
Image
Date
26 August 1933
Source
The Argus

Details

136390 [nurse entertaining babies during air raid practice]
Title
136390 [nurse entertaining babies during air raid practice]
Type
Image
Date
10 June 1942

Details

Presbyterian Babies' Home, Melbourne: Wartime air raid practice
Title
Presbyterian Babies' Home, Melbourne: Wartime air raid practice
Type
Image
Date
10 June 1942

Details

Three Korean nurses have been studying hospitals, nursing administration and nursing training in Australia.
Title
Three Korean nurses have been studying hospitals, nursing administration and nursing training in Australia.
Type
Image
Date
1957
Creator
Photographer: Neil Murray

Details

Presbyterian Babies' Home, Group photo
Title
Presbyterian Babies' Home, Group photo
Type
Image
Date
1975

Details

Victorian Heritage Database place details: 19 Canterbury Road [created 16/11/2011:]
Title
Victorian Heritage Database place details: 19 Canterbury Road [created 16/11/2011:]
Type
Document
Date
16 November 2011
Source
Heritage Victoria

Details

Sources used to compile this entry: Presbyterian Babies' Home, The Argus, 27 October 1928, 17 pp, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3965605; Presbyterian Babies' Home. Appeal for 5,000 pounds. Caring for unwanted children., The Argus, 12 February 1929, 6 pp, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3995922; 'Historical Details', Kildonan Uniting Care, 7 September 2007; Reconnections and Recollections: Charting the History of Connections UnitingCare, Connections UnitingCare, May 2010, http://web.archive.org/web/20140320060720/http://connections.org.au/pdfs/ReConnections-and-ReCollections.pdf.

Prepared by: Cate O'Neill