Benevolent Society

For information on how to access our archives please follow this link.

Read about some of the milestones in our history.

1820: The Benevolent Society initiated the first social service for motherhood in Australia, introducing volunteer district nursing.
1821: The Benevolent Society Asylum opened for the 'poor, blind, aged and infirm' at the Central Railway site.
1852: The Benevolent Society formed the NSW Society for the Relief of Destitute Children.
1858: Vast numbers of destitute miners returning from the goldfields were assisted by The Benevolent Society.
1866: Australia's first maternity hospital was established by The Benevolent Society.

1877: This hospital became a teaching school for nurses and midwives.
1879: We successfully lobbied for the introduction of free legal aid.
1888: The hospital became a teaching hospital for medical students.
1892: The Benevolent Society played an instrumental role in forming the Children’s Protection Act
which outlawed child labour.
1895: The old age pension was introduced, the first of its kind in the world.
1905: Australia's first Women's Hospital, The Royal, opened in Paddington, Sydney.
1907: Infant mortality was reduced by The Benevolent Society pioneering the use of pasteurised milk.

1912: The Benevolent Society established the first antenatal clinic in the British Empire.
1915: We provided relief for families of men fighting in the First World War.
1917: Scarba House in Bondi became a welfare home for women and children.
Read more about the history of Scarba House.
1929: A new Royal Hospital for Women building opened.
1930: Depression Food Shelters provided essential emergency relief.
1931: Royal Hospital for Women became a centre for medical research.

1944: A new kindergarten was built at Scarba House.
1947: First Post Natal Clinic established at Royal Hospital for Women.
1949: Australia's first cancer detection clinic opened at the Royal.
1962: Diagnostic Ultrasound procedure developed at the Royal.
1964: First Village for the Aged established in Allambie Heights.
1968: The Benevolent Society Adoption Agency was opened.
1970: Support services provided to enable single mothers to keep their babies.
1979: The Benevolent Society defined its objective as serving all vulnerable
and disadvantaged groups in the community.
1970's: Residential services for older people developed across Sydney.

1983: Birth Centre opened at the Royal Hospital for Women.
1980's: Leading edge approaches to preventing child abuse and neglect were developed
through Early Intervention Programs.
1990: NSW Post Adoption Resource Centre was established.
1993: New community programs to help older people stay living at home launched.
1995: Development of innovative women's health services in South West Sydney.
1999: Sydney Leadership launched, a program designed to bring about social change
through innovation and cross sectoral, collaborative leadership.

2002: Launch of Social Ventures Australia in partnership with the AMP Foundation, WorkVentures and The Smith Family. Visit the SVA website.
2002: Launch of Rural Leadership Program in New England/ North West region of New South Wales.
2004: The Benevolent Society responded to the Senate Committee's Report, Forgotten Australians: A report on Australians who experienced institutional or out-of-home care as children. Read more about The Benevolent Society’s response.
2005: The Benevolent Society's Central Coast Networks of Practice Project received a 'Highly Commended' award at the National Child Protection Awards 2005 at Parliament House in Canberra.
2006: The Benevolent Society was funded to provide Early Intervention services in eight locations across NSW.
2006: Saver Plus and MoneyMinded, the two flagship programs of the Financial Literacy and Inclusion Partnership, were recognised nationally when ANZ received a Special Award in the 2006 Prime Minister's Awards for Excellence in Community Business Partnerships.

History