- Entry type: Person
- Entry ID: PR00454
Drew, Ann
- Birth name Cornish, Ann
- Born 4 May 1822, Ashton, Devon, , England
- Died 5 August 1907, Sandgate, Queensland, Australia
- Occupation Welfare worker
Summary
Ann Drew settled in Toowong, with her husband Richard Langler Drew in the early 1860s. Over the next four decades Ann advocated and helped administer an array of welfare institutions. Most importantly, in April 1871 she founded the Female Refuge and Infants’ Home (‘Mrs Drew’s Home’) for young single mothers and their babies. Initially funded by Ann and her friends, the refuge eventually gained government assistance, however, this funding was withdrawn in 1900.
As lady president of the Social Purity Society, Ann was involved in the establishment of Lady Musgrave Lodge (1891-1892) as a hostel and training place for immigrants and other ‘friendless’ girls. She also took part in agitation to repeal the Contagious Diseases Act of 1868 and held the position of secretary of the committee of the Lady Bowen Hospital from 1870 to 1879. In 1906 Ann Drew retired as ‘Foundress and Superintendent’ of the Female Refuge and Infants’ Home.
Details
On 21 December 1848 at St James’s Church, Exeter, Ann married Richard Langler Drew. The couple migrated to Victoria in about 1858 and after three years they moved to Queensland. In 1862 Richard Drew acquired land a few kilometers from Brisbane where he established the ‘Village of Toowong’. Considered the driving force behind the growth of Toowong, Drew made land available for the first Church of St Thomas the Apostle, and was one of its original trustees. Richard died on 8 October 1860.
Archival resources
Published resources
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Resource Section
- Drew, Ann (Anne) (1822-1907), Routh, S J, 2006, http://adbonline.anu.edu.au/biogs/AS10134b.htm
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Resource
- In Retrospect: Government Institutions, Child Safety Services, Department of Communities, Queensland Government, 2009, http://www.childsafety.qld.gov.au/publications/documents/centcareretrospect.pdf
- Trove: Drew, Ann (1822-1907), http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-767054