Wesley Dalmar: over a century of caring

Central Mission Home for Neglected Children (later known as Dalmar) opened in Woolloomooloo in October 1893. By 1894 there were 16 children in residence at Waverley House, Home for Waifs and Strays.

The need was greater than the demand and once again an appeal was raised to expand. Waverley House was used for the purchase, in 1900, of a four acre property on Parramatta Rd Croydon called Dalmar. By 1901 it was caring for 80 children. The property at Dundas was purchased and in 1923 the matrons and children moved to the purpose built residence at Carlingford. By 1938 it was again bursting at the seams with 150 infants and children.

1962 saw the beginnings of the foster care and adoption programmes. In 1982, there were 90 children in various residential units and 35 in foster care. Dalmar Child and Family Care included five cottages in Carlingford, ‘family group homes’ at Burwood and West Pymble, emergency centres in Lewisham and Ashfield, as well as Francis St annexe for Vietnamese boys accommodating 94 homeless teenagers. There were 580 enquiries for assistance in 1982. Wesley Dalmar now provides homes for about 200 children and young people in fostercare.

Wesley Dalmar continues to provide support to adults who have at any time been in the care of Dalmar, through access to their history, and counselling or casework when required.

Wesley Dalmar Services