The Nelson region has supported homes for children since the 19th
Century. Details and research resources about these institutions have
been provided at the end of this story. Each institution has its own stories to tell. We feature one of these stories. At the turn of the 20th century, an orphan's lot was not a
happy one. The inmates of orphanages were often the bastard children of
unmarried women, or were placed in orphanages because of desertion or
the death of parents. Orphans endured patronising attitudes, social
stigma, and their thoughts and feelings were rarely acknowledged.
Orphanages were generally prepared for official visitors, so the public
generally did not know what went on inside. 2 http://www.theprow.org.nz/society/nelson-orphanages/#.VIkQq3s5tkc
