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

Non-government Charities

During the nineteenth century non-government charities provided for the poor and aged, children, women and the sick and disabled. The first few charities established in Adelaide were:

1849: A group of men, led by the Reverend Daniel James Draper formed the Adelaide Benevolent and Strangers’ Friend Society. It gave food and money to provide general relief in the community.

1856: Bishop Short set up the Female Refuge for ‘fallen’ women. The number of women who resided in the Refuge grew to two hundred by 1889. The Refuge continued until the 1940’s.

1860: Julia Farr and a group of ladies established the Orphan Home for children.

1868: The newly formed Sisters of St Joseph led by Mary MacKillop established a female refuge.

1886: Archdeacon Dove set up the Children’s (later Boys’) Home. However, the first charity to emerge that focused on people with a disability did not occur until the 1870’s.

The South Australian Institution for the Blind, Deaf and Dumb

In 1865 William Townsend, politician and lay preacher, discovered that there were thirty four destitute blind people living in the State. He established a Public Committee comprising prominent citizens to raise funds to build an institution for the blind, deaf and dumb. In 1874 The South Australian Institution for the Blind, Deaf and Dumb was established. It provided a place of refuge, education and boarding facilities.

Home for Incurables

In 1878, the Home for Incurables was founded to provide care for those who had an incurable condition. By 1881 there were forty four inmates and a staff of nine.

Estcourt House

In 1894 Estcourt House was opened to help people in need. By December there were eight children, aged between four and twelve, and twenty three visually impaired elderly people in residence.

Kalyra

Kalyra was opened in the early 1890’s as a sanatorium for people with tuberculosis (consumption). It was situated in the Adelaide Hills near Belair.

Minda

Minda opened in 1898 to provide a home for children with an intellectual disability. Prior to the establishment of Minda Home, children with intellectual disabilities were placed in the Parkside Lunatic Asylum.

References

Can do 4 kids: Townsend House. 2002. [online]. [Accessed on 30th April 2007]. Available from the World Wide Web: <http://www.townsendhouse.com.au/AboutUs/History/tabid/99/Default.aspx>

Dickey, Brian 1986. Rations, residence, resources : A history of social welfare in South Australia since 1836. Netley: Wakefield Press Richards, Eric (ed.) 1986. The Flinders history of South Australia. Netley: Wakefield Press

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>