Visit and talk about former St Joseph’s Orphanage in Goulburn on September 8.

This orphanage was one of four facilities in Goulburn for children from the early years of the 20th century –  the others being St. John’s Orphange for Boys, the Laura Bell Children’s Home in Cowper St, and the Gill Memorial Home.

Why were orphanages needed in Goulburn? Why did whole families of children move into the care of an institution?

Traditionally orphans were children deprived of both parents through death but over time the term was extended to include children who were abandoned, neglected or considered paupers.

Such children were placed in an institution variously called an orphanage, a benevolent asylum, an orphans’ school, foster home, receiving depot, foundling home, training centre or training farm.

These names still conger up a feeling of dread. 

The number of orphans reduced over time, but there were many families unable to cope with the death, serious illness or unemployment of a parent. 

Thus a new group of children needed out-of-home care for short or long periods of time. The children of widows were more likely to be ‘taken in’ than those of a widower, who was expected to be able to earn a living and keep his children.

Relatives were encouraged to make a contribution towards the cost care, and as a reward could see the children on visiting days. Most orphanages preferred to admit school-age children, rather than infants and toddlers whose care demands were high and survival rates lower. 

Religious and sectarian institutions raised funds to construct suitable buildings. Designs required large dormitory bedrooms to accommodate different age groups, dining and recreation rooms, bathrooms, and toilets plus large kitchen and laundry facilities.

Outside the metropolitan area, acreage was required to grow vegetables and fruit, raise hens, and have a dairy in order to reduce the need to buy provisions.

Most orphanages were self-contained institutions, where the children were educated on site, and did the bulk of the everyday work. Girls were generally occupied with domestic duties; boys worked outside in the gardens and farm. 

E C Manfred, Architect, from Goulburn designed both St John’s and St Joseph’s Orphanages.

​The cost is $10. Bookings are essential via historygoulburn.events @gmail.com, subject line: St Joseph’s Orphanage.