Story: Adoption

Decline of adoption (1st of 2)

Decline of adoption

In the early 1960s the number of unmarried mothers who kept their children started to rise. This meant that homes which catered for unmarried mothers were increasingly underused. The Alexandra Home for Unmarried Mothers in Wellington reopened in a new building on a new site in 1974, but by this time its services were no longer in demand. Matron P. Dowling sits in the home's empty lounge.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Dominion Post Collection (PAColl-7327)
Reference: EP/1974/1642/27

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page:

Anne Else, 'Adoption - Adoption and single mothers – 1960s and 1970s', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/26056/decline-of-adoption (accessed 19 March 2024)

Story by Anne Else, published 5 May 2011, reviewed & revised 18 Apr 2018