St. John's Orphanage

The three-story brick building on Mundy Street features iron-railed balconies, a basement, and red roof tiles across its 242,800 square meter property.

The Catholic institution opened in 1913 after Bishop John Gallagher laid its foundation stone in 1912, replacing an older facility that only housed girls.

The Sisters of Mercy managed this institution for 66 years, providing education and agricultural training to over 2,500 children until its closure in 1978.

The building remained vacant after 1994, following its use as a Youth with a Mission Base, and currently requires substantial restoration under heritage conservation rules.

During World War II, the facility exceeded its intended capacity of 100 residents, reaching over 200 children despite only four percent being actual orphans.

Location: New South Wales

Inception: 1912

Architects: Edward Manfred

Architectural style: Federation architecture

Floors above the ground: 3

GPS coordinates: -34.76160,149.71000

Latest update: May 15, 2025 20:13