Agency
Kingston Centre (previously known as Victorian Benevolent Asylum 1850-1868; Melbourne Benevolent System 1868-1924; Melbourne Benevolent Asylum and Hospital for the Aged and Infirm 1924-1949; Melbourne Home and Hospital for the Aged 1949-1965; Cheltenham Home and Hospital for the Aged 1965-1970)
VA 1278
1850 - present
Agency names
Officially known as: Kingston Centre (previously known as Victorian Benevolent Asylum 1850-1868; Melbourne Benevolent System 1868-1924; Melbourne Benevolent Asylum and Hospital for the Aged and Infirm 1924-1949; Melbourne Home and Hospital for the Aged 1949-1965; Cheltenham Home and Hospital for the Aged 1965-1970)
On 1 June 1848, a proposal was made to the Town Council of the City of Melbourne by a Councillor requesting a site and allocation of funds from the New South Wales government. The purpose of the requested site and funds was for the establishment of an asylum for the aged and destitute of the then-Colony of Victoria. The Governor of New South Wales gave the land free of charge. The money had to be matched pound for pound.
A meeting was held at the Mechanics’ Institute in October 1849 resulting in a Committee being formed. A Committee meeting on 2 November 1849 recommended that the institution be called ‘the Victorian Benevolent Society’ and the building ‘the Benevolent Asylum’. The Rules of the Society were proposed and adopted at a Special General Meeting held on 8 November 1851. The Rules are documented in the early editions of the institution’s Annual Report (VPRS 19558).
The Objects [objectives] of the Victoria Benevolent Society, Melbourne were “to relieve the aged, infirm, disabled or destitute, of all creeds and nations, and to minister to them the comforts of religion:
1) "By receiving and maintaining, in a suitable building, such as may be most benefited by being inmates of the Asylum.
2) "By giving out-door relief in kind, to families and individuals in temporary distress.
3) "By affording medical assistance and medicine, through the establishment of a dispensary or otherwise.
4) "By affording facilities for religious instruction and consolation to the inmates of the Asylum”.
Funding for the institution came from three principal sources - Government grants, subscriptions and fund raising. Government provided the bulk of funding, both building costs and maintenance.
The Benevolent Asylum was the only building standing in North Melbourne in September 1852. It was bordered by Abbotsford, Elm, Curzon and Miller Streets. The foundation stone had been laid on 24 June 1850 by Superintendent La Trobe. Stage 1 opened on 27 November 1851.
In 1868 the Victorian Benevolent Asylum changed its name to the Melbourne Benevolent Asylum/System.
A report from the Superintendent and Secretary arguing for a larger and less costly site was published in the 1875 Annual Report. In 1880 a deputation from the Committee and members of the Legislative Council met the Premier regarding a free grant from the Government of approximately 150 acres at Cheltenham. The Report of the Inspector of Public Charities in 1881 strongly supported the removal of the Benevolent Asylum from its inner city location.
A special meeting of subscribers was held on 6 May 1904 to consider the advisability of moving to another site. The outcome of the meeting was very much in favour of moving. The Premier agreed to introduce a Bill to empower the Trustees to sell the present land and buildings and use the proceeds to purchase another site and rebuild. The Committee agreed on the 154 acres of land at Cheltenham which had already been reserved many years earlier by the Government for Asylum purposes. The Melbourne Benevolent Asylum Act was passed in 1904 which gave the Trustees the right to dispose of the North Melbourne site.
The foundation stone was laid at Cheltenham on 31 March 1909. The complex of Asylum buildings at Kingston was designed by architect Charles D’Ebro and constructed between 1909 and 1911. On 27 March 1911 the transfer of inmates began. Buildings were added over the succeeding years. Large portions of the Asylum property were used for the purpose of market gardens.
The Heatherton Tuberculosis Sanatorium (originally Heatherton Sanatorium for Consumptives) (VA 5081) occupied a portion of the Asylum’s original site between 1913 and circa 1950. From the time of its establishment, the Superintendent, the Medical Superintendent and the Matron of the Asylum were responsible for both institutions.
In 1924, the agency changed its name to the Melbourne Benevolent Asylum and Hospital for the Aged and Infirm; and then in 1949, renamed again to the Melbourne Home and Hospital for the Aged, and once again in 1965 to the Cheltenham Home and Hospital for the Aged.
A range of new buildings were added during the 1960s, including a 100 bed Geriatric and Day Centre in 1962.
On 21 October 1970, the former Asylum was renamed the Kingston Centre. In 1994, the Kingston Centre became part of the Southern Health Care Network (later Southern Health, then Monash Health) (VA 5264). On 30 January 1998, the former Heatherton Sanatorium closed.
Services provided at the Kingston Centre have substantially changed over the years. As at the time of writing [November 2023] the institution’s services focus on rehabilitation.
A meeting was held at the Mechanics’ Institute in October 1849 resulting in a Committee being formed. A Committee meeting on 2 November 1849 recommended that the institution be called ‘the Victorian Benevolent Society’ and the building ‘the Benevolent Asylum’. The Rules of the Society were proposed and adopted at a Special General Meeting held on 8 November 1851. The Rules are documented in the early editions of the institution’s Annual Report (VPRS 19558).
The Objects [objectives] of the Victoria Benevolent Society, Melbourne were “to relieve the aged, infirm, disabled or destitute, of all creeds and nations, and to minister to them the comforts of religion:
1) "By receiving and maintaining, in a suitable building, such as may be most benefited by being inmates of the Asylum.
2) "By giving out-door relief in kind, to families and individuals in temporary distress.
3) "By affording medical assistance and medicine, through the establishment of a dispensary or otherwise.
4) "By affording facilities for religious instruction and consolation to the inmates of the Asylum”.
Funding for the institution came from three principal sources - Government grants, subscriptions and fund raising. Government provided the bulk of funding, both building costs and maintenance.
The Benevolent Asylum was the only building standing in North Melbourne in September 1852. It was bordered by Abbotsford, Elm, Curzon and Miller Streets. The foundation stone had been laid on 24 June 1850 by Superintendent La Trobe. Stage 1 opened on 27 November 1851.
In 1868 the Victorian Benevolent Asylum changed its name to the Melbourne Benevolent Asylum/System.
A report from the Superintendent and Secretary arguing for a larger and less costly site was published in the 1875 Annual Report. In 1880 a deputation from the Committee and members of the Legislative Council met the Premier regarding a free grant from the Government of approximately 150 acres at Cheltenham. The Report of the Inspector of Public Charities in 1881 strongly supported the removal of the Benevolent Asylum from its inner city location.
A special meeting of subscribers was held on 6 May 1904 to consider the advisability of moving to another site. The outcome of the meeting was very much in favour of moving. The Premier agreed to introduce a Bill to empower the Trustees to sell the present land and buildings and use the proceeds to purchase another site and rebuild. The Committee agreed on the 154 acres of land at Cheltenham which had already been reserved many years earlier by the Government for Asylum purposes. The Melbourne Benevolent Asylum Act was passed in 1904 which gave the Trustees the right to dispose of the North Melbourne site.
The foundation stone was laid at Cheltenham on 31 March 1909. The complex of Asylum buildings at Kingston was designed by architect Charles D’Ebro and constructed between 1909 and 1911. On 27 March 1911 the transfer of inmates began. Buildings were added over the succeeding years. Large portions of the Asylum property were used for the purpose of market gardens.
The Heatherton Tuberculosis Sanatorium (originally Heatherton Sanatorium for Consumptives) (VA 5081) occupied a portion of the Asylum’s original site between 1913 and circa 1950. From the time of its establishment, the Superintendent, the Medical Superintendent and the Matron of the Asylum were responsible for both institutions.
In 1924, the agency changed its name to the Melbourne Benevolent Asylum and Hospital for the Aged and Infirm; and then in 1949, renamed again to the Melbourne Home and Hospital for the Aged, and once again in 1965 to the Cheltenham Home and Hospital for the Aged.
A range of new buildings were added during the 1960s, including a 100 bed Geriatric and Day Centre in 1962.
On 21 October 1970, the former Asylum was renamed the Kingston Centre. In 1994, the Kingston Centre became part of the Southern Health Care Network (later Southern Health, then Monash Health) (VA 5264). On 30 January 1998, the former Heatherton Sanatorium closed.
Services provided at the Kingston Centre have substantially changed over the years. As at the time of writing [November 2023] the institution’s services focus on rehabilitation.
Jurisdiction: Victoria
