Ballarat Female Refuge was established in 1867 by a group of 26 Ballarat ladies. The laundry was attached to the Refuge, supposedly to train the women there for domestic work, but by the size of the mangle, this was impossible. Unbearably hot in summer, and freezing cold in winter, the women had to work in the laundry while they were at the Refuge. It provided a means of supporting the Refuge financially.Postcard size coloured photographsballarat female refuge laundry, sarah ellis, ballarat female rufuge, ballarat town and city mission, alexandra babies' home, orphan