- From
- 1874
Ashfield, New South Wales, Australia - Occupations
- Welfare organisation and Social support organisation
- Alternative Names
- Sydney Foundling Hospital (former name, 1874 - 1877)
- Website
- http://www.theinfantshome.org.au/Right.html
- Location
- 17 Henry St, Ashfield, NSW 2131 Phone: 9799 4844 Fax: 9799 4122 Email: mail@theinfantshome.org.au
Summary
Originally established as the Sydney Foundling Hospital in 1874, it became the Infants' Home in 1877. It assumed responsibility for the care of infants of single mothers and destitute parents and provided a temporary home for the mothers. Its management comprised an all female Board until 1973, when the first male joined. It was the first organisation to move from residential care to long day care in the early 1970s and the third family day care scheme to commence operations in New South Wales. The Family Centre of Early Intervention commenced in 1978.
My father was a foundling in Sydney in 1925.How do I find out which childrens home he would have been taken to, or if his mother was ever found.
Thank You
Lyn French - 8 September 2010, 7:32 PM EST
I'm sorry, but this is beyonf our area of expertise, we are a women's history site. Because he was born in NSW, I suggest you contact staff at the Mitchell Library in Sydney. They should be able to give you some practical advice.
AWAP Administrator - 27 September 2010, 4:56 PM EST
I am the author of the Official History of the Home above and coincidentally have accessed this page today and have seen Lyn's query.
In my book, as I explain in the Introduction, The Home's privacy policy meant that most infants' names were changed. However the real names, of course, are in The Home's meticulously kept records.
The records are kept at the Mitchell Library, as suggested already, and were usually looked after by Mr. Arthur Easton, now [very sadly, and recently] deceased. If you call the Infants Home at Henry St. Ashfield, 02 9799.4844 they can perhaps facilitate contact with the present record keeper at the Mitchell. The CEO of The Home is now Ms Anita Kumar. The public is not able to access these records - as you can understand there is a strict privacy policy- but for proven genuine enquiries I understand research can possibly still be carried out for you. You can be reassured though, that if he was taken there, over one hundred years of records I went through show that the best possible care was given to the children. Good luck!
Susan Lorne-Johnson - 15 October 2010, 3:31 PM EST
Dear Susan,
Many thanks for taking the time to provide that information. I am sure it will be useful to other readers.
AWAP Administrator - 28 October 2010, 2:03 PM EST
I am researching a house in bronte road bronte formerly Nelson bay road (Waverley)that was the sydney home for babies from 1910 until 1913. It was also known as the sydney infants home. Is there any connection ? Any information welcomed. Many thanks.
Julie
Julie mackenzie - 25 November 2010, 9:32 PM EST
I had a ggg-grandfather in Ashfield, John Smith. He was an alderman on the first council there. He died in 1872 but left his widow Catherine Smith who died in 1892. I am wondering if the Mrs John Smith on the first committee could have been my ggg-grandmother. They lived at Pine Cottage, Liverpool Rd Ashfield.
Is there any way to find out this information from New Zealand?
Many thanks,
Gael Smart
Gael Smart - 26 November 2010, 12:29 PM EST
Can anyone help? Perhaps you can follow the advise offered above by Susan Lorne-Johnson.
AWAP Administrator - 29 November 2010, 10:27 AM EST