Fourth House of Providence

The Mary MacKillop Heritage Centre was originally a House of Providence. Built in 1901 and opened in 1902 at the request of Archbishop Carr, Mary purchased the land for this building from the Doctor next door and proceeded to raise the funds necessary to build it. (She described herself as the beggar in chief in Melbourne). The term Providence meant, for Mary and the Sisters, that God will provide. They had great faith and trust that all they needed to continue their work would be given to them by God, through the generosity of those around them. The Providence was a refuge for women and children who had nowhere else safe to live. The Doctor’s residence was purchased by the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1920 to supplement the accommodation to meet demand. Mary lived here for a short time when visiting Melbourne. Today both buildings are heritage listed and have been beautifully restored as the centerpiece of the Mary MacKillop Heritage Centre which houses a significant exhibition in the four galleries that comprise the Museum.