Originally known as the Sydney Day Nursery Association, SDN’s first centre was opened in 1905. The Association was formed by a group of women from Sydney’s affluent inner-Suburbs who recognised the dire need among working mothers, who found themselves the sole breadwinners for their family, for safe and reliable child care.

The SDN Archive was established in 2002 to house the extensive collection of historical records, documents, photographs, teaching resources and toys amassed by SDN since it was established in 1905.

The Archive is a unique resource in Australia’s children’s services sectors – a community treasure trove reflecting a changing society and SDN’s contribution to Australia’s children and families for more than 100 years.

The Archive contains:

• A complete set of Annual Reports from 1905
• Extensive minutes of executive meetings and nursery school branch meetings
• Logbooks and teachers’ programming books
• Oral histories from staff and committee members, with transcripts
• Artworks by student teachers from the Nursery School Teachers College in the 1950s, and young children in the 1960s
• Newspaper articles, photographs, and original deeds to properties
• Children’s toys and books
• Informative reports, photographs and curriculum materials relating to the specialised teacher training provided by the Nursery School Teachers’ College between the 1930s and 1970s.

Access is by prior arrangement with the Archivist.

For further information, contact SDN on 02 9213 2400 or by email at history@sdn.org.au

Postal Address:
SDN Archive
SDN Children’s Services
PO Box 654, Broadway NSW, 2007