James Brown Memorial Trust (1894 - 1955)

In 1892 Estcourt House was purchased by the James Brown Memorial Trust. The trust was established by Mrs Jessie Brown, widow of James Brown, a wealthy pastoralist, to help people in need. In 1894 Estcourt House was opened and by December there were eight children, aged between four and twelve, and twenty three visually impaired elderly people in residence. By the turn of the century the number of residents had increased to forty five. The children at the home received their schooling from members of staff until 1918 when the Education Department provided a teacher. In 1931 Estcourt House became a convalescent home for children recovering from medical treatment, and it also provided specialist care for survivors of tuberculosis, poliomyelitis and children with rheumatic fever. It could look after up to forty children at one time.

Adelaide Children’s Hospital (1955 – 1978)

During the 1920’s and 1930’s Estcourt House developed a close relationship with the Adelaide Children’s Hospital. Many of the children at the convalescent home were referred directly from the hospital. In 1955 the Adelaide Children’s Hospital bought Estcourt House. They spent a large amount of money on renovations and additions so they could accommodate up to one hundred children.

Ru Rua Nursing Home (1978 – 1989)

In 1978 the South Australian government bought Estcourt House and it became part of the Strathmont Centre. In 1981 the home was upgraded and convalescing children were moved from the Ru Rua Nursing Home at North Adelaide. Estcourt House became the Ru Rua Nursing Home and operated until 1989.

References

Find your way home: with SA Link-up. 2005. [online].[Accessed on 30th April 2007]. Available from the World Wide Web: http://salinkup.com.au/media/pdf/9_miscellaneous.pdf