Dalmar (Wesley Dalmar)

Dalmar (now known as Wesley Dalmar) started as the Central Mission Home for neglected children in the inner-Sydney suburb of Woolloomooloo in the late 1800s. In 1900, the Home moved to Croydon where it changed its name to Dalmar. In 1923, the institution relocated to Carlingford as a cottage-style institution. In the 1980s, Dalmar stopped operating as a children’s home, and through its new name Wesley Dalmar Children’s Services and as part of Wesley Mission, it continues to operate by providing foster care programs and residential care facilities.

Like many other institutions around Australia, Dalmar has also been involved in allegations of child sexual and physical abuse. In the 2005 Senate References Committee inquiry titled “Children in Institutional Care”, it was indicated that Dalmar had received by 2004 allegations from 13 people concerning sexual and physical abuse or unduly harsh treatment during their time with Dalmar.

One particular individual who spent time at Dalmar along with her siblings between 1954 to 1961, describes how she and her siblings were physically and sexually abused by various employees at Dalmar. This included the institution’s dentist who would rape her on numerous occasions and the superintendent who would regularly beat the children if their mother was in arrears with her payments to Dalmar. In 2014, she was able to tell her story about the abuse to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

Moody Law is currently representing a client who has made allegations of sexual and physical abuse while they were placed at Dalmar.

We invite former victims to tell us confidentially what information they may have, and we will explain what options are available to help with these cases.

Call us or complete the confidential enquiry form below.