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FORMER CARLTON CRECHE

Other Names CHILD CARE CENTRE ,  CARLTON CRECHE Location 101-111 NEILL STREET CARLTON, MELBOURNE CITY File Number HER99000089 Level Registered

[1/3] FORMER CARLTON CRECHE SOHE [2/3] 1 carlton creche fo nov1999 [3/3] carlton creche plan

Statement of Significance

What is significant?
The Former Carlton Creche is a two storey building constructed in 1919 to cater for the children of working mothers in the Carlton area.

How is it significant?
The Former Carlton Creche is architecturally and historically significant to the State of Victoria.

Why is it significant?
The Former Carlton Creche is architecturally significant as the first purpose-built creche or day nursery constructed in Melbourne. The Carlton Creche is representative of an early twentieth century welfare institution. Its architectural form, with simple lines and lack of decoration, reflects the charitable purpose of the institution which allowed for no extravagance.
The Former Carlton Creche is historically significant as the first purpose-built creche or day nursery constructed in Melbourne. It catered for the children of working class parents in the Carlton area. At first these were the children of widows, deserted wives and wives with 'useless husbands', who were encouraged to work in domestic service. The use of the Creche reflected social change within Victoria, and particularly social attitudes to working women and their children, for a period of eighty years.
The Former Carlton Creche is historically significant as a welfare institution which catered to the needs of migrant families during the years after World War II.
The Former Carlton Creche is historically significant as an unusual response to the needs of children and working women in the early twentieth century, since women were generally expected to care for their own children at home. It was, in part, an attempt to impose middle class values on working class children in order to promote the health of future citizens and to militate against the effects of a slum environment which was considered injurious to health and morality.