Julia Farr Centre

Highgate Park, formerly known as the Julia Farr Centre, was a hospital and care facility for disabled individuals located in Fullarton, South Australia. It was established in 1879 as the Home for Incurables by Julia Farr, a philanthropist concerned about the welfare of impoverished patients discharged from the Adelaide Hospital with incurable illnesses or disabilities. These patients had no support or place to go, often ending up in the Adelaide Destitute Asylum. Driven by her previous success in founding the Home for Orphans, Farr garnered support from Dr. William Gosse to raise funds for the project. They purchased a house on Fisher Street in Fullarton and transferred ten inmates from the Destitute Asylum to the Home in October 1879. The facility quickly outgrew its capacity, leading to the construction of a new building in 1881 with accommodation for 30 patients. An extension, named the Gosse Memorial Wing, was added in 1884 to accommodate an additional 40 patients. Over the next century, adjacent buildings were acquired and incorporated into the facility, expanding its capacity and services. In April 2020, the Julia Farr Centre closed its doors after serving the community for over 140 years.