The Australian Mariners' Welfare Society, formerly the Sydney Sailors' Home, is preparing to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the committee established to build and operate the home in Sydney.
Key points in the celebrations will be the release in July of a history of the home written by Jan Bowen, a Sydney-based author and journalist.
In 1859, a provisional committee of citizens was formed with the object of building a Sailors' Home in Sydney to provide them with comfortable accommodation while the seamen were on shore.
In 1860, land in George Street North in the Rocks area of Sydney was designated as a suitable site and construction began in 1863, the design being similar to sailors' homes then operating in many major seaports around the world.
The Sydney Sailors' Home opened its doors in February 1865 and in addition to crews of merchant ships, many naval personnel also lodged there up until 1891 when the Royal Naval House, with accommodation for 300, was opened in nearby Grosvenor Street.
After operating continuously for 114 years, the home was closed in 1979 following the compulsory resumption of the property by the Sydney Cove Redevelopment Authority.
The council managing the home then turned its attention to providing facilities for retired merchant seafarers.
In December 1990, Mariners' Court at Woolloomooloo, offering accommodation for forty residents in comfortable, fully furnished serviced rooms with private facilities was officially opened. However, following a decline in occupancy, the facility was eventually sold in 1998.
This ushered in a new era for the organisation, which continues to serve seafarers.
In 2002, it reinvented itself as The Australian Mariners' Welfare Society.
Today, under Captain Alan Tait as Chairman, the society makes annual grants to organisations such as the Mission to Seafarers and Stella Maris Clubs operating in ports throughout Australia.