The Geelong and Western District Female Benevolent Association was formed on 23 June, 1855, with Miss Caroline Newcomb of Coryule as its inaugural President.

Money was raised through government grants, subscription fees, donations, including bequests, and fundraising, though not by public appeal. Subscribers referred cases to the committee for consideration. Homes were built through grants from the government and charitable trusts (Baxter Homes, in 1983), personal bequest (Haimes Memorial Houses, in 1895-6) and personal endowment The homes endowed by Elizabeth Phillips Austin, erected in 1887, were, as Heritage Victoria notes, endowed by a woman, and owned and managed by a charitable institution run by women, for the benefit of women in reduced circumstances.

The Society ran a free kindergarten in Yarra Street for nearly 100 years, and Upton House in Queenscliff, to provide holidays for women.

Sources used to compile this entry: Brownhill, W. R., A History of Geelong and Corio Bay, Wilke & Co, Melbourne, 1955; Geelong & Western District Ladies Benevolent Association, 1860 - 1992, GRS 200-203; Geelong and Western District Ladies Benevolent Association (1855 - ); Geelong Heritage Centre, Geelong City Council; Heritage Victoria, Victorian Heritage Database, http://vhd.heritage.vic.gov.au/vhd/heritagevic.