The Magdalen Refuge in Brisbane, established in 1888, was one of several institutions across Australia and the world that aimed to "rescue" and rehabilitate women perceived as fallen or morally at risk.
Run by the Sisters of Mercy of the Catholic Church, this refuge offered shelter and work in the form of laundry services, to vulnerable women, including those who were unwed mothers, victims of sexual abuse, or simply deemed to be straying from societal norms. The legacy of the Magdalen Refuge in Brisbane remains a complex chapter in the city's social history, prompting ongoing discussions about the treatment of vulnerable women and the role of institutions in shaping their lives.
Telegraph (Brisbane), Saturday 14 April 1888, page 4
The heritage listed site was recently (2018) preserved as part of a residential housing project at 60 Bridge St, Wooloowin, with the intention to convert it for residential use.