Elsie Refuge

The Elsie Refuge was a women's refuge set up in Glebe, Sydney in 1974. A group of feminist activists squatted a housing commission property in Glebe and set up the refuge in response to the lack of services & support available to women & children suffering from domestic violence. Initially, there was no support from governments, with the staff at the centre providing security with nothing more than a cricket bat. The Whitlam Government granted funding to the service 3 years later in 1975.The refuge was the first of its kind, and served to inspire other women to recreate the service model in their local areas.

References

* [http://www.wrrc.org.au/resources/bookrefuges/2005-07-17.6277883923/download "The NSW Women’s Refuge Movement’s Little Book of Refuges- First Edition"]