Organisation Fairhaven (1927 - 1951)

Fairhaven was a Home for women with venereal diseases operated by the Mission of St James and St John. It opened in October 1927.

Before the opening of Fairhaven in October 1927, the Mission ran The Horseshoe in Carlton and Ramoth in Ferntree Gully. The Mission's Homes for women with venereal diseases aimed to provide women who were 'deeply disturbed emotionally' with a place to live and convalesce. After restoring the women to health, the Mission's task was to 'untangle the emotional problems lying at the base of their trouble'.

In his history of the Anglican Church in Victoria, Nunn writes that the Chief Secretary of the Hogan Government, Mr Tunnecliffe, was so impressed with the Mission's work with venereal diseases patients at The Horseshoe and Ramoth that he invited them to take over the management of the state-run Female Venereal Diseases Residential Clinic in Yarra Bend, Fairfield. This is the institution that became known as Fairhaven.

In his history of the Mission, Cole writes that many of the women at Fairhaven were pregnant, and that they were 'mainly prostitutes' who had been sent to the Mission for 'care and rehabilitation'.

Cole described Fairhaven as appearing 'somewhat gloomy' from the outside but having a 'more homely' environment inside, for more than 30 residents.

An article from 1928 describes the daily routine at Fairhaven:

The day begins at 7 a.m., breakfast at 8. Then follow prayers in the Chapel, which is gradually being furnished, and finally, the round of daily duties. These latter are all undertaken by the girls themselves, with, for obvious reasons, the exception of those connected with the kitchen.

The article goes on to say that the work at Kedesh goes on, 'necessarily hidden away from public gaze but surely seen and owned by Him whose heart in the days of His flesh was ever responsive to the appeal of the outcast and diseased'.

In 1951, the institution was transferred by the Department of Health to Winlaton at Nunawading. Around this time, the discovery of penicillin transformed the treatment of venereal disease, making long stays in institutions unnecessary. The Mission only continued its work at Winlaton until 1953 when Winlaton was handed over to the Welfare Department.

In 1997 the Mission of St James and St John became part of Anglicare Victoria. At this time, records of the Mission were transferred to Anglicare Victoria. These included records of the various orphanages, homes and other residences run by the Mission. The custodian of these records is Anglicare Victoria.

Events

1927 - 1951

Fairhaven is situated in Fairfield.. Location: Fairfield

Timeline

 1926 - 1927 The Horseshoe
 1926 - 1927 Ramoth
       1927 - 1951 Fairhaven
             1951 - c. 1991 Winlaton
                   1991 - 1993? Nunawading Youth Residential Service
                         1991 - Parkville Youth Residential Centre

Books

• Cole, Dr Keith, Commissioned To Care: The Golden Jubilee History of The Mission of St. James and St. John 1919-1969, first edn, The Ruskin Press Pty Ltd, North Melbourne, Australia, 1969. Details

Online Resources

• Nunn, H.W., 'Social Services (Chapter VIII of A Short History of the Church of England in Victoria 1847-1947)', in Project Canterbury, Issued by the Editorial Committee of the Centenary Celebrations, Melboune Diocese, 1947, Project Canterbury, 1999, http://anglicanhistory.org/aus/hwnunn_victoria1947/08.html. Details