From Brittany the work spread to Melbourne in 1884 with the arrival of two English and six French Little Sisters. By the vow to the service of poor, aged, infirm people the Sisters unite a life of hospitality to the religious life. It is their great endeavour to cultivate "a family spirit". For this reason the aged guests of each house are known as "the Little Family".

The Little Sisters received old people of either sex and any religion, provided they are without other means. With the Little Sisters "old age" began at sixty but once the person is adopted, he or she is free to remain for the rest of their lives.

Upon their arrival in Melbourne the greatest joy of the Little Sisters came with the admission of their first aged person. This lady was seventy years of age and completely paralysed. Apparently she had been praying the whole previous year that the Little Sisters, whom she had met in London, would come to Australia. God heard her prayer and saw to it that she was the first person to be received! A few days later another lady came and from that time on the work of the "Little Family" never ceased to flourish.

At Northcote, Melbourne, a building was begun soon after their arrival. Eventually a large building was completed. Ninety new Residents were admitted in the space of nineteen days, and the numbers steadily increased to 140. This gives some idea of the great need in Melbourne at the time.

The Sisters were wanted elsewhere as shown by the fact homes were established in Sydney in 1886, Auckland 1888, Noumea 1897, Dunedin 1904, Adelaide 1912, Perth 1920 with further homes in Sydney, New Zealand, Western Samoa being founded later.

Blessed Jeanne reminded her Sisters "never forget that the poor are Our Lord". The Sisters have a great devotion to St. Joseph.

All the Sisters who had been buried at the Melbourne General Cemetery were re-interred and buried at their Northcote convent cemetery.

Further Suggested Reading:

Brown, M.C. ‘The Foundation of the Little Sisters of the Poor in Australia’

Journal of the Australian Catholic Historical Society Volume 7, part 4, pp37-40, 1984

Leroy, A. History of the Little Sisters of the Poor, trans. from French, London 1906.

Le Breton, Agatha The Centenary of the LSP: a century of service. 1939-1939.

Melb. A.C.T.S. 1939.

If further information is required about individual Sisters the following address is given:

The Archivist

Little Sisters of the Poor

Provincial House

Mount St. Joseph

P.O. Box 246

RANWICK NSW 2031

In writing to the Archivist, it would be appropriate that a financial contribution be made for the Archivist’s time and expertise.

Religious Orders or Congregations have released the details on their members. It is understood that the copyright of any material (including the listing of the names of the Sisters) relevant to a particular Order or Congregation in this publication remains with the relevant Order or Congregation.