St Mary's Home was established in 1898 by St Mary's Guild of the Anglican Church as a "Home for orphan and destitute girls, and for those living in undesirable surroundings". The first Home was in Owen Street, Newtown, Wellington. The home was known as `Sunnyside' and run by Sister Emily Bearne from England. In September 1900 the Home was moved to larger premises at Messines Road, Karori (this new property `Beautiful Karori' purchased from Mr Lancaster.) Over a period of time years four houses were developed under the auspices of St Mary's Home: Duncan Cottage for boys and girls aged two to seven years was established as an adjoining property in 1915, admitting boys in 1921; Lancaster Street for school girls aged ten to fourteen years was established in 1923; Main Home for elder girls who did not attend school but assisted in house-work etc; fourth Home for special cases where children needed to be isolated for illness etc. In 1928 there was 101 children living in the various Homes. Very young children from St Barnabas' Anglican Home for Babies in Khandallah were transferred to Duncan Cottage at age two. Once the boys turned seven years they then moved to the Anglican Boys Home in Lower Hutt, the girls remaining at St Mary's Home. In 1928 the average cost per child, per week to stay in the Home was 10/-. The Home was situated at 29 Messines Road, Karori in 1948. Duncan Cottage closed in 1962 and was used as a Transit Home for mothers temporarily unable to look after their children. In 1963 the trustees of St Mary's Guild changed their name to the St Mary's Anglican Homes trust Board, and in 1971 became Sprott House Homes Incorporated. (For further biographical information see MS-Papers-3820 and a booklet from Sprott House which outlines the history of the homes in the `St Mary's Homes' backfile).
St. Mary's Home (Wellington, N.Z.)
St Mary's Guild - Minute book
Date: 1910-1915
From: Church of the Province of New Zealand. Wellington Diocese : Central and parish records
Reference: MSX-1035
Description: Includes a copy of the deed from the minute book of 1910 in the opening pages. Deed outlines the general objectives and purposes of St Marys' Guild, rules pertaining to Guild trustees and membership, names of elected officers. The minutes detail the number of children in care, attending school, returning to their mothers; further entries include vistors' names, comments on girls leaving and returning to the Home, financial accounts, administrative records etc. Guild reports indicate that on average twenty-six girls resided at the main home and fourteen younger girls at Duncan Cottage during this period Relationship complexity - Loose material removed from volume is at MS-Papers-1925-39/1 Quantity: 1 volume(s).
St Mary's Guild - Minute book
Date: 1921-1926
From: Church of the Province of New Zealand. Wellington Diocese : Central and parish records
Reference: MSY-1275
Description: Minutes comprise reports from both the main St Mary's Home and Duncan Cottage. lncluded within the minutes are the number of girls and young women in residence, lists of contributions and vistors, health reports and notification of deaths, treasurer's reports. Minutes for October 1923 note the arrival of the first two young boys and an inspection by the Education Department with a view to registration for Duncan Cottage Quantity: 1 volume(s).
St Mary's Guild - Minute book
Date: 1916-1921
From: Church of the Province of New Zealand. Wellington Diocese : Central and parish records
Reference: MSY-1274
Description: Minutes comprise reports of both the main St Mary's Home and Duncan Cottage. Includes treasurer's reports and laundry earnings, comments on number of inmates and their health, movement of children in and out of the Home, details on staff, property and visits etc Quantity: 1 volume(s).
Earthquake Damage Relief Fund, etc (composite)
Date: 1909-1943
From: Church of the Province of New Zealand. Wellington Diocese : Central and parish records
Reference: MSY-1262
Description: See Appendix D for contents (p24). Includes Journal, 1909; St Paul's Relief & Dorcas Society cash book, 1910-1915; Military Affiars Committee cash book, 1914-1917; Earthquake Damage Relief Fund cash book, 1942; Bombed English Churches Fund cash book, 1943; Social Service Fund cash book, 1912-1921; Bishops' fees, 1913-1920; subscriptions for Girl's School, 1912; Coronation Services, 1911; Bishop's presentation cash book, 1911 Quantity: 1 volume(s).
St Mary's Home Committee : Minutes and history
Date: 1899-1928
By: St. Mary's Home (Wellington, N.Z.)
Reference: MS-Papers-3820
Description: The minutes date from 1899-1900 and refer to staffing, finances, residents and miscellaneous matters. Also included is an article published in `Active Service' in 1928 which gives some personal accounts and historical information about St Mary's Homes. Also includes a photocopy of the marriage entry for Thomas Walter Evans and Louisa Calvary married at St Mary's Chrurch (Karori), 1919. Source of title - Supplied title St Mary's Home Committee managed four children's homes in the Wellington area. Quantity: 1 folder(s) (9 leaves). Physical Description: Mss, printed matter (photocopies) Provenance: Donor/Lender/Vendor - Mr R A Barber, Welllington, 1980
Loose material removed from St Mary's Guild minute book (MSX-1035)
Date: [ca 1911]
From: Church of the Province of New Zealand. Wellington Diocese : Central and parish records
Reference: MS-Papers-1925-39/1
Description: Material relates to St Mary's Home, Karori. Includes a detailed report from Miss Agnes Parlane of St Mary's Home for Y.W.C.A, Sept 1912. This report includes the aims and objectives of St Mary's Home: "To rescue girls from evil surroundings and bad influences, to reclaim and reform the wilfully incorrigible, to teach, train and guide them spiritually, morally and physically." The report goes on to indicate the number of girls in care, their duties, the expected length of their terms (two years minimum) etc. The report indicates that girls of any religious denomination can be admitted to the Home and concludes with an overview of the organisation which notes that girls can be sent to the Home from other parts of New Zealand, and that the Home is subject to Government inspection. Quantity: 1 folder(s).
Subscriptions - St Mary's Guild
Date: 1923-1929
From: Church of the Province of New Zealand. Wellington Diocese : Central and parish records
Reference: MSY-1277
Description: Volume may also have been used for subscriptions for the Missions to Seamen Institute Quantity: 1 volume(s).
St Mary's Guild - Cash book
Date: 1908-1923
From: Church of the Province of New Zealand. Wellington Diocese : Central and parish records
Reference: MSY-1276
Description: Cash book details receipts and expenditure for the Main House and Duncan Cottage, includes accounts for laundry and maintenance, Government grants and records of Diocesan Social Services Fund Quantity: 1 volume(s).
7 Church organisations
Date: 1908-1971
From: Church of the Province of New Zealand. Wellington Diocese : Central and parish records
Reference: Series-2460
Description: Includes records of the following organisations: Missions to Seamen minute books, letter book and correspondence, 1911-1919; St Mary's Guild minute books, cash book and subscriptions, 1910-1929; Mothers' Union records,1944-1971; Association of Anglican Women (Christchurch Diocese) list of members, 1970; The Nurses' Fellowship printed material. Quantity: 10 volume(s) and 17 folders.
Social Services - Ledger
Date: 1932-1948
From: Church of the Province of New Zealand. Wellington Diocese : Central and parish records
Reference: MSY-1278
Description: Financial ledger detailing the accounts of various societies and organisations under the auspices of the Church of the Province of New Zealand, Wellington Diocese Relationship complexity - See also Social Service Fund cash book, 1912-1921, in MSY-1262 (composite volume) Quantity: 1 volume(s).
8 Social services
Date: 1923-1948
From: Church of the Province of New Zealand. Wellington Diocese : Central and parish records
Reference: Series-2461
Description: Ledger and cash books for City Mission (formerly St Peter's Mission until 1929), children's and babies homes, including St Barnabas' Home for Babies (set up in 1918 as part of the work of the City Mission), St Mary's Home (Wellington) etc. See also composite fund cash book, 1912-1921 (MSY-1262) Quantity: 3 volume(s).
Social Services - Cash book (St Mary's Home?)
Date: 1923-1934
From: Church of the Province of New Zealand. Wellington Diocese : Central and parish records
Reference: MSY-1279
Description: Cash book recording receipts and expenditure; includes payments relating to Duncan Cottage and Lancaster Street which were two of the homes under the auspices of St Mary's Home (Wellington) Relationship complexity - See also Social Service Fund cash book, 1912-1921 in composite volume (MSY-1262) Quantity: 1 volume(s).
Social Services - Cash book
Date: 1932-1948
From: Church of the Province of New Zealand. Wellington Diocese : Central and parish records
Reference: MSY-1280
Description: Cash book detailing accounts for Anglican organisations run under the auspices of the Church of the Province of New Zealand, Wellington Diocese Relationship complexity - See also Social Service Fund cash book, 1912-1921 in composite fund volume (MSY-1262) Quantity: 1 volume(s).
Social Services - Ledger
Date: 1949-1966
From: Church of the Province of New Zealand. Wellington Diocese : Further records
Reference: 87-181-39/4
Description: Financial ledger detailing income, charges etc. Includes records for All Saints' Children's Home, Anglican Boys' Home, St Barnabas' Babies' Home and St Mary's Home Quantity: 1 volume(s).
Brockie, Madge :Photograph of Agnes Parlane
Date: 1950
By: Brockie, Madge, active 1950-1990s; Alington, Margaret Hilda, 1920-2012
Reference: PAColl-3101
Description: Photograph of matron Miss Agnes Parlane of St Mary's Home, Karori (1906-1937). Photograph taken 9 September 1950 at Madge Brockie's wedding Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s).
View over Karori, Wellington, looking towards Johnston's Hill
Date: 1942
From: Karori Historical Society : Photographs
Reference: 1/2-151708-F
Description: View over Karori, Wellington, in 1942, looking towards Johnston's Hill. Plymouth Street is in the foreground, Messines Road is in the centre with St Mary's Home, later the site of Sprott House, to right. Marsden College is centre left. Photographer unidentified. (This image is the 3rd of 4 sections of panorama PA6-596) Quantity: 1 b&w copy negative(s). Physical Description: Film negative
Polling booth at St Mary's Home, Karori, Wellington
Date: 1950
From: Evening post (Newspaper. 1865-2002) :Photographic negatives and prints of the Evening Post newspaper
Reference: 114/224/07-G
Description: St Mary's Home, Messines Road, Karori, one of a number of unusual locations for polling booths for the local body elections. Photographed on 17 November 1950 by an Evening Post photographer. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Dry plate glass negative 3.25 x 4.25 inches