In times of need - care for women and children

It’s often said that The Salvation Army has a ministry of “presence” – of being there in times of need.

In 1900, The Salvation Army purchased The Lodge in Stanmore and it served as a rescue home, or refuge for single women. Over the years the centre evolved to become a women’s industrial home, often caring for women on probation as well as young offenders. In 1969, the centre became a home for children from dysfunctional families. Around 1987, the home also served as a hostel for female students. It was then refurbished to become The School for Leadership Training. It now acts as The Salvation Army’s Booth College Stanmore House conference and training centre. 

* Around 35,000 children were cared for by The Salvation Army in Australia between 1890 and the early 1980s. While the recent Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse has highlighted significant failures in The Salvation Army’s management of children’s homes, for many young people they were places of caring, education and opportunity. Anyone needing to make a complaint is invited to contact The Salvation Army’s Centre For Restoration: (02) 92669781