Kambala and The Infants' Home, Ashfield – an enduring partnership

The Infants' Home and Kambala have come a long way since their association began in 1902 . The Infants' Home began as an orphanage and hospital in Darlinghurst, caring for abandoned mothers and babies, then moved to Ashfield in 1876, a few years before Miss Gurney founded Kambala in Woollahra.

In 1908 the Kambala Union decided to make endowments to a Cot Fund at the Infants' Home in perpetuity called the Gurney-Soubeiran Cot. 

Since then support for the home as taken many forms – clothes, cot covers, toys, equipment, annual cash donations and parties for the children. By the 1950s while Miss Hawthorne was head mistress, Kambala hosted dances to raise money for the annual endowment. These parties were reported in the Sydney Morning Herald giving lavish descriptions of the decorations and what everyone wore, including "Miss Fifi Hawthorne wore a gown of wine coloured, crushed velvet". In the 1950s children's parties were hosted at the original Massie House on Coolong Road, so toys were presented to the children from the Home who attended. 

The Infants' Home is now a leading provider of integrated early childhood education and care, with services used by over 2,500 children and families annually. The core of their work is protecting children at risk and 30 percent of their services are targeted to support children and families living with complex needs or physical, mental, social or financial vulnerabilities.  

In 2013 The Infants' Home opening a new Early Learning and Care Centre to house integrated services in early education, early intervention, health services, together with research and training, under one roof. 

KOG were delighted to contribute to the renovation of Rigby House in 2017, a fabulous new space tor the babies and toddlers attending The Infants' Home. Members of the KOGU Committee attended the official opening in April 2018.

KOG is very proud of the long-term partnership it enjoys with The Infants' Home. We look forward to our continued association and being able to support the work of its dedicated team in providing "each child every opportunity" to develop their abilities to fulfil their unique potential.

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