Eerie photographs taken inside abandoned St John's Orphanage revealed

Publish date: 2024-06-27

With its empty desks, dirty beds and used exercise books left scattered and forgotten across the floor, these eerie photographs show how an abandoned Australian orphanage has been left to fall into disrepair.

St John's Orphanage, in Goulburn, north east of Canberra, housed more than 2,500 boys from when it was opened by the Sisters of Mercy and the Catholic Church in 1912 to its closure in 1978.

The imposing building was once filled with burgeoning life as the boys, many of whom were from 'broken families', roamed around the classrooms and corridors - but it has been left to rot.

These haunting pictures from Abandoned Australia show how the walls have been covered with offensive graffiti and dozens of windows smashed by people exploring the maze of corridors. 

St John's Orphanage, in Goulburn, north east of Canberra, has been left to fall into disrepair, pictured is a rotting desk

St John's Orphanage, in Goulburn, north east of Canberra, has been left to fall into disrepair, pictured is a rotting desk

The imposing building was once filled with burgeoning life as the boys roamed around the classrooms and corridors, but it has been left to rot

The imposing building was once filled with burgeoning life as the boys roamed around the classrooms and corridors, but it has been left to rot

The Sisters of Mercy ran the orphanage and those housed there during the war years had an incredibly 'tough' time, according to reports

The Sisters of Mercy ran the orphanage and those housed there during the war years had an incredibly 'tough' time, according to reports

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The Sisters of Mercy ran the orphanage and those housed there during the war years had an incredibly 'tough' time, according to reports.  

Many old boys have commented that the life was 'tough but fair'. At its peak St John's housed 200 boys which was far above the suitable capacity of the building.

The majority of the boys who were looked after at the orphanage were from poor families that couldn't afford to feed them or from 'broken' or troubled families. 

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A normal school day would start at 6am with many designated morning chores to be done, mostly designed around cleaning. 

Mass would be held at 7.15am, followed by breakfast and lessons. At the end of each day, depending on the weather in Goulburn at the time, boys would play sport, go to boxing classes, play, and have Hockey or Rugby League training.  

In 1975, due to declining numbers, the home took in a small number of girls from St Joseph’s Girls Home in North Goulburn. 

A broken bathtub was left lying on its side in one of the filthy rooms which is covered with graffiti and rubbish 

A broken bathtub was left lying on its side in one of the filthy rooms which is covered with graffiti and rubbish 

Bunches of flowers have been placed beside some of the broken sinks at St John's Orphanage, in Goulburn, north east of Canberra

Bunches of flowers have been placed beside some of the broken sinks at St John's Orphanage, in Goulburn, north east of Canberra

These eerie pictures from Abandoned Australia show how the walls have been covered with offensive graffiti 

These eerie pictures from Abandoned Australia show how the walls have been covered with offensive graffiti 

Haunting photographs show how the rows of shower and bath cubicles have become filthy with grime 

Haunting photographs show how the rows of shower and bath cubicles have become filthy with grime 

The Boy¿s Home was closed in 1978 and the few boys and girls who were left were transferred to cottages which were near to St. John¿s

The Boy’s Home was closed in 1978 and the few boys and girls who were left were transferred to cottages which were near to St. John’s

A broken exercise bike was left abandoned in one of the filthy corridors - probably a remnant from the time it was a missionary base

A broken exercise bike was left abandoned in one of the filthy corridors - probably a remnant from the time it was a missionary base

The Boy’s Home was closed in 1978 and the few boys and girls who were left were transferred to cottages which were near to St. John’s.  Care continued with the Sisters of Mercy until its final closure in 1981.

It got a second lease of life in the late 1990s as 'Youth With A Mission Base' where people came from all over the world to complete discipleship training courses.

The building then began to fall into disrepair and a fire destroyed a large part of the roof in November 2015. 

It got a second lease of life in the late 1990s as 'Youth With A Mission Base' where people came from all over the world to complete discipleship training courses

It got a second lease of life in the late 1990s as 'Youth With A Mission Base' where people came from all over the world to complete discipleship training courses

Many old boys have commented that the life was 'tough but fair'. At its peak St John's housed 200 boys which was far above the suitable capacity of the building

Many old boys have commented that the life was 'tough but fair'. At its peak St John's housed 200 boys which was far above the suitable capacity of the building

The building then began to fall into disrepair and a fire destroyed a large part of the roof in November 2015 (pictured)

The building then began to fall into disrepair and a fire destroyed a large part of the roof in November 2015 (pictured)

Some of the stairs in the building are now covered with a thick layer of bird poo and many of the bunk beds are filthy

Dozens of dead birds can be seen lying in the corridors of the orphanage which has been left to fall into disrepair 

Dozens of dead birds can be seen lying in the corridors of the orphanage which has been left to fall into disrepair 

Exercise books and papers were left forgotten and scattered on the floor of one of the classrooms in the imposing building 

Exercise books and papers were left forgotten and scattered on the floor of one of the classrooms in the imposing building 

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