Central Business District in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia — Oceania
Mary Mackillop 1842-1909
Photographed by Dean Barton-Ancliffe, June 3, 2026
1. Mary Mackillop 1842-1909 Marker
Mary Mackillop 1842-1909
Founded on this site July 1897
A night school
A providence for unemployed servant girls
A school for poor children of the city
Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart
Monument donated by: Central Equity Limited 1997
Erected 1997 by Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart and Central Equity Limited.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Education • Religion & Religious Structures • Women. A significant historical month for this entry is July 1897.
Location. 37° 48.474′ S, 144° 58.204′ E. Marker is in Melbourne, Victoria. It is in the Central Business District. It is on La Trobe Street 0.1 kilometers west of Victoria Street, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 33-47 La Trobe Street, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia. Touch for directions.
Regionally, it is in Oceania, Australasia, the Pacific Ocean, South Pacific, the Pacific Rim, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Royal Society of Victoria (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named The Royal Society of Victoria (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); a different marker also named The Royal Society of Victoria (about 90 meters away); The Things They Left Behind
this page online
Also see . . . Mary MacKillop and Little Lons. Stories and Musings For Family and Friends
A short stroll from the edge of Fitzroy where Mary MacKillop was born forty-seven years earlier, was the seedy part of Melbourne known as Little Lons. The top end of Little Lonsdale Street ran through the middle of a maze of lanes offering cheap rent or the possibility of sleeping rough in alleyways. Those who lived here were in dire need. During the depression the population of this block peaked; penniless families, children, the homeless, the unemployed, street gangs, new arrivals and criminals lived crowded together.(Submitted on June 13, 2026, by Dean Barton-Ancliffe of Rowville, Victoria.)
Mary arrived back in Melbourne right at this time, met the Archbishop and found that Thomas Carr was a man who had a heart for the poor; a bishop who understood her. In his letter of welcome he wrote that while the need in Little Lons was overwhelming, one would have to live in the area to do anything worthwhile. He wouldnt askthe Sisters to live there. Predictably Mary replied, Of course I have no objection to the locality, it is there that the real work lies. She and Sister Gertrude moved into two small adjacent houses, one still under repair. They named it Providence; this was a name the Josephites coined when they had no idea where the money would come from. God would have to provide.Photographed by Dean Barton-Ancliffe, June 3, 20262. Mary Mackillop Marker along La Trobe Street
Mary and Gertrude would beg for food and donations of money. They found good hearted people among the Little Lons residents. Within weeks they gave shelter to homeless out-of-work servant girls, dispensed soup and clothing in the backyard, and taught night school for children who worked as cheap labour during the day. These children were ready to learn at night. Marys sister Annie MacKillop, wrote after staying for a few days at the Providence, It was a dreadfully noisy placewomen screaming at night used to be so awful I thought it was murder.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 13, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 13, 2026, by Dean Barton-Ancliffe of Rowville, Victoria. This page has been viewed 5 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 13, 2026, by Dean Barton-Ancliffe of Rowville, Victoria. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
