Benevolent Society - History timeline

1820: The Benevolent Society initiates the first social service for motherhood in Australia: volunteer district nursing.
1821: The Benevolent Society Asylum is opened for the 'poor, blind, aged and infirm' at the Central Railway site.
1852: The Benevolent Society forms the NSW Society for the Relief of Destitute Children.
1858: Vast numbers of destitute miners returning from the goldfields receive support from The Benevolent Society.
1866: Australia's first maternity (lying-in) hospital is established by The Benevolent Society.

1877: The lying-in hospital becomes a teaching school for nurses and midwives.
1879: The Society successfully lobbies for the introduction of free legal aid.
1888: The hospital beomes a teaching hospital for medical students.
1892: The Benevolent Society helps to form the Children’s Protection Act, outlawing child labour.
1896: The Benevolent Society's President, Arthur Renwick, draws up the manifesto for the Old Age Pensions League, initiating a campaign for the aged pension.
1901: The old age pension is introduced, the first of its kind in the world.
1901: The Benevolent Society purchases the Flinton Estate in Paddington as the site for a new Hospital
1905: Australia's first Women's Hospital, The Royal, opens in Paddington, Sydney.
1907: Infant mortality reduced through the pioneering use of pasteurised milk at the Royal.

1912: The Benevolent Society opens the first antenatal clinic in the British Empire.
1915: Relief provided to families of men fighting in the First World War.
1917: Scarba House in Bondi becomes a welfare home for women and children.
Read more about the history of Scarba House.
1931: Royal Hospital for Women became a centre for medical research.

1944: A new kindergarten was built at Scarba House.
1947: First postnatal 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: Our first aged care Village was established in Allambie Heights.
1968: The Benevolent Society Adoption Agency was opened.
1979: Support services provided to single mothers to enable them to keep their babies

1983: Birth Centre opens at the Royal Hospital for Women.
1980's: The Early Intervention Program introduces innovative approaches to preventing child abuse and neglect
1990: The NSW Post Adoption Resource Centre opens - a first for the State.
1993: New community programs are introduced to help older people stay living at home.
1995: Our Centre for Women's Health opens in Campbelltown in South West Sydney.
1998: Sydney Leadership is launched to bring about social change through innovation and cross-sectoral, collaborative leadership.

2002: Social Ventures Australia is launched in partnership with the AMP Foundation, WorkVentures and The Smith Family. Visit the SVA website.
2002: A new Rural Leadership Program is introduced in the New England/ North West region of NSW.
2004: The Benevolent Society responds to Forgotten Australians, a Senate Enquiry report on Australians who experienced institutional or out-of-home care as children. Read more about The Benevolent Society’s response.
2005: Our Central Coast Networks of Practice Project receives a 'Highly Commended' award at the National Child Protection Awards 2005 at Parliament House in Canberra.
2006: The Benevolent Society secures funding to provide Brighter Futures early intervention services in eight locations across NSW.
2006: Saver Plus and MoneyMinded, the two flagship programs of the Financial Literacy and Inclusion Partnership, are recognised nationally in the Prime Minister's Awards for Excellence in Community Business Partnerships.
2007: The Benevolent Society opens its first Queensland service, the North Gold Coast Early Years Centre (a first for the State)
2008: Social Leadership Australia is launched to mark the 10th anniversary of Sydney Leadership.
2009: A new Queensland Leadership Program begins and the Society starts delivering out-of-home care services for the first time, through the Fostering Young Lives program.
2010: Post Adoption Support Queensland is launched.