Description: This is an image of Kardinia House, which was the site of Kardinia Children’s Home from 1947 to 1986. The caption for this image reads:
“Geelong. Kardinia House built before 1855. Built for Dr Thomson the first Mayor of Geelong. House totally transformed in the 1880s with bay windows.
Kardinia House is one of the oldest major residences in Geelong. Alexander Thomson had his flocks of sheep along the Barwon River in 1836. He soon replaced his slab hut with a stone mansion built 1854. Dr Thomson became the first Mayor of Geelong in 1850. The house at 1 Riverview Terrace Belmont had extensive additions made to it in 1869. It was extended again in the 1880s by a local businessman who owned it then leaving no sight of the 1855 house. He added then popular bay windows and a veranda etc. In the 20th century for some time it was used as a Salvation Army Childrens’ Home from 1947 to 1986. It catered mainly for two to five year old children. The house was last sold in 2019 with about 4 acres of gardens facing the Barwon River.”
