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Our History
Supporting Victorian Children & Families since 1877
Experience is knowledge - and that knowledge is helping Berry Street continue to make a real difference in the lives of more and more Victorians every year.
Berry Street was established in 1877 as an Infant Asylum and Babies' Home and was also the training centre for all Mothercraft nurses in Victoria for nearly 70 years.Today Berry Street is the largest independent child and family welfare organisation in Victoria.
In 1877, a group of women concerned with the high rate of infant mortality, and the plight of pregnant and often penniless women, founded The Victorian Infant Asylum. Unwanted or illegitimate babies were admitted, and their mothers were given shelter and support.
Almost from the very beginning, the training of nurses in the specialised care of babies played an important role at Berry Street. In 1907, Berry Street implemented a formalised training program that later became the Mothercraft Nurses Training Program until 1975.
As times and philosophies of children's welfare changed, so did the services of Berry Street. The Adoption Agency was closed in 1975. By 1992, we had expanded into the youth and family services area and in 1994, Berry Street amalgamated with Sutherland Homes for Children.
The founder of Sutherland Homes, Selina Sutherland was known as "New Zealand's Florence Nightingale", and in 1888 she became Victoria's first licensed ‘child rescuer'. In 1909 Selina Sutherland founded the Sutherland Homes for Neglected Children. The following year, her dream of creating a permanent home for children was realised when another generous and compassionate woman, Auguste Meglin donated her 40 acre property in Diamond Creek to Sutherland Homes. Although neither women lived to see the dream become a reality, for nearly 90 years Sutherland Homes was home to thousands of children.
The amalgamation of Berry Street and Sutherland Homes created an organisation well-equipped to meet the challenges of child and family welfare in the 21st Century and beyond.
Today, Berry Street continues its well-established tradition of caring for children, young people and families in need.
If you believe you were placed with Berry Street or Sutherland Homes for Children and would like any information, please contact our Heritage and Background Information Service on telephone 03 9429 9266 or email heritage@berrystreet.org.au.