Benevolent asylums, also known as destitute asylums or infirmaries for the destitute, were

institution An institution is a humanly devised structure of rules and norms that shape and constrain social behavior. All definitions of institutions generally entail that there is a level of persistence and continuity. Laws, rules, social conventions and ...

s established throughout the colonies of Australia in the 19th century to house destitute men; deserted, vagrant or homeless women and their children; and

orphan An orphan is a child whose parents have died, are unknown, or have permanently abandoned them. It can also refer to a child who has lost only one parent, as the Hebrew language, Hebrew translation, for example, is "fatherless". In some languages ...

s not able to support themselves. Poor conditions in the sleeping quarters and harsh treatment in some of these institutions created unpleasant experiences for many of those who had to reside in such places. The

colony of Victoria The Colony of Victoria was a historical administrative division in Australia that existed from 1851 until 1901, when it federated with other colonies to form the Commonwealth of Australia. Situated in the southeastern corner of the Australian ...

had nine benevolent asylums, of which three were attached to hospitals, in 1857, with an annual cost to the colony (including some building costs) of £124,250. By January 1860 there were 11 benevolent asylums in the

colony of New South Wales The Colony of New South Wales was a colony of the British Empire from 1788 to 1901, when it became a State of the Commonwealth of Australia. At its greatest extent, the colony of New South Wales included the present-day Australian states of New ...

, housing 1,282 inmates and with a total annual expenditure of £25,822.

Benevolent Asylums and Infirmaries in Australia

New South Wales New South Wales (commonly abbreviated as NSW) is a States and territories of Australia, state on the Eastern states of Australia, east coast of :Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria (state), Victoria to the south, and South ...

**''Benevolent Asylum'' (Hyde Park, Sydney) **''Carcoar Hospital and Benevolent Asylum'' **''Deniliquin Benevolent Asylum'' **''Eden Benevolent Asylum'' **''Goulburn Benevolent Asylum'' **''Hawkesbury Benevolent Asylum'', Windsor **''Liverpool Benevolent Asylum'' **''Newcastle Benevolent Society'' **''Newington Benevolent Asylum'' **''Parramatta Benevolent Asylum'' **''Queanbeyan Hospital and Benevolent Asylum'' **''Randwick Asylum for Destitute Children'' **''Scone Benevolent Asylum and Hospital'' **''Singleton and Patrick's Plains Benevolent Asylum'' **''Sydney Infirmary and Dispensary'', now Sydney Hospital * Victoria **''Ararat Benevolent Asylum'' **''Belfast'' (Port Fairy) ''Hospital and Benevolent Asylum'' **''Ballarat Benevolent Asylum'' **''Casterton Benevolent Asylum'' **''Castlemaine Benevolent Asylum'' **''Creswick Hospital and Benevolent Asylum'' **''Daylesford Hospital and Benevolent Asylum'' **''Eaglehawk Benevolent Asylum'' **''Hamilton Hospital and Benevolent Asylum'' **''Ovens Benevolent Asylum'', Beechworth **''Port Fairy Hospital and Benevolent Asylum'' **''Sandhurst'' (Bendigo) ''Female Benevolent Asylum'' **''Sandhurst'' (Bendigo) ''Male Benevolent Asylum'' **''Melbourne Benevolent Asylum'' now Kingston Centre **''Victorian Benevolent Hospital/Asylum'', later known as Mount Royal (closed) **''Geelong Infirmary and Benevolent Asylum'' **''Bendigo Benevolent Asylum and Industrial School'' **''Warrnambool Benevolent Asylum'' *

South Australia South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a States and territories of Australia, state in the southern central part of Australia. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories by area, which in ...

** Adelaide Destitute Asylum ** Home for Incurables *

Queensland Queensland ( , commonly abbreviated as Qld) is a States and territories of Australia, state in northeastern Australia, and is the second-largest and third-most populous state in Australia. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Austr ...

**''

Dunwich Benevolent Asylum The Dunwich Benevolent Asylum was a Benevolent Asylum for the aged, infirm and destitute operated by the Queensland Government in Australia. It was located at Dunwich, Queensland, Dunwich on North Stradbroke Island in Moreton Bay and operated fro ...

'' *

Tasmania Tasmania (; palawa kani: ''Lutruwita'') is an island States and territories of Australia, state of Australia. It is located to the south of the Mainland Australia, Australian mainland, and is separated from it by the Bass Strait. The sta ...

**''Launceston Benevolent Asylum'' Several of the buildings of the Adelaide Destitute Asylum are now home to the SA Migration Museum, which opened on August 26, 2003.History Trust of South Australi
Migration Museum
Accessed 1/9/2008

References

External links

Boots from the Adelaide Destitute Asylum

history of Sydney Benevolent Asylum (now Sydney Hospital)

* ttp://www.abc.net.au/gnt/history/Transcripts/s965812.htm George Negus Tonight - history - Transcripts - Annie Kelly
Heritage Treasures of Adelaide - Destitute Asylum building

Disability Information and Resource Centre, South Australia

website Poverty in Australia Social security in Australia {{Australia-org-stub