Sydney Refuge Opens After Donors Raise Full Purchase Price
When government funding fell through, a Sydney domestic violence shelter found another way forward. Community donors stepped up with enough money to buy a second refuge outright.
A group of private donors just made it possible for hundreds more women and children to escape domestic violence in Sydney.
Mary's House Services, which runs a women's refuge in Sydney's north, will open a second location in 2027 after philanthropic donors covered the entire purchase price. The organization had applied for federal government funding to buy the building but was turned down.
The need couldn't be more clear. In 2024, the refuge had to turn away 118 women and their children because there was no room. By 2025, that number jumped to 176 families.
"We receive referrals from all parts of Sydney as well as from rural and regional areas in New South Wales and even interstate, because often families need to relocate for safety," said CEO Yvette Vignando.
For over a decade, Mary's House has provided safe accommodation in a leased building. That single site has provided more than 20,000 safe room nights.
When their federal funding application was rejected, the organization reached out to its donor network. Within months, private individuals donated enough to purchase the new property outright.
The Ripple Effect
The new refuge will offer self-contained apartments for women and children of all ages. Unlike many shelters, it will even welcome families with pets, removing one more barrier for people seeking safety.
Between both locations, Mary's House Services will now support hundreds of survivors annually with crisis housing, specialist social workers, housing coordination, and trauma counseling.
The organization started 10 years ago when a group of community members on Sydney's lower north shore decided to act. "The founders say that their vision has now grown beyond anything they imagined," said chair Helen Conway.
Independent MP Zali Steggall, who had advocated for the federal funding, expressed relief that donors made it happen. "It's an important project that I'm very proud to support," she said.
The property purchase will be complete in October, with doors opening to families in 2027.
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Based on reporting by ABC Australia
This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
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