Murrumbeena Girls' Home, c. 1900, courtesy of Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Details
The Murrumbeena Girls' Home was established by the Salvation Army in 1897. It accommodated around 40 girls and young women. The Home closed in 1912.
Murumbeena Girls' Home was located on Dandenong Road, Murumbeena in 1897. ,According to the Salvation Army's submission to the 'Forgotten Australians' inquiry, the Home closed in 1912.
Some scenes in the Salvation Army's religious epic, Soldiers of the cross (1900) were shot at Murrumbeena Girls' Home.
The War Cry in 1912 described the Home as 'a beautiful old place … If environment helps to lift to higher things, then the Murrumbeena girls are much favoured.'
The residents of Murrumbeena Girls' Home were trained in housework, needlework, shorthand, and also took part in bible classes and outdoor activities. According to the War Cry:
And so physically, mentally and spiritually there is a constant endeavour to equip the girls to fight the battle of life successfully. Some are today Salvation Army officers, others are engaged in office work. Quite a number are respectably married, and settled in homes of their own. Most of those in domestic service are giving satisfaction.
The circumstances of a number of these girls were such that one trembles to think what would have become of them but for the timely help of the Home.
Some have failed, sadly, but the seed sown will bear fruit, and the bread cast upon the waters return after many days
Sources used to compile this entry: 'To save our boys and girls', War Cry, 10 August 1912, p. 3; Freiberg, Freda, 'Film', in eMelbourne: the city past and present, Encyclopedia of Melbourne online, The University of Melbourne, 2008, http://www.emelbourne.net.au/biogs/EM00567b.htm; The Salvation Army Australia Southern Territory, 'Children's Homes: A list of openings, closings and function (submission 46)', in Inquiry into Institutional Care: Submissions received as at 17/03/05, Commonwealth of Australia, 2005, http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Community_Affairs/Completed_inquiries/2004-07/inst_care/submissions/sublist.
Prepared by: Cate O'Neill
Created: 1 May 2009, Last modified: 29 October 2018
Last updated: 7 August 2023
Cite this: https://www.findandconnect.gov.au/ref/vic/biogs/E000270b.htm
First published by the Find & Connect Web Resource Project for the Commonwealth of Australia, 2011
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