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Table of Contents
- 1. >
- 2. The Rise and Decline of Macdonaldtown
- 3. The 1890s “Baby Farmer” Scandal: Sydney’s Most Notorious Serial‑Killer Couple
- 4. Who were the perpetrators?
- 5. Timeline of the crime spree
- 6. Key facts from the investigation
- 7. How the Scandal Shaped Macdonaldtown’s Reputation
- 8. Modern‑Day Remnants: what Visitors Can See
- 9. Lessons Learned: Child Welfare and Legal Reform
- 10. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The Rise and Decline of Macdonaldtown
Location and early development
- Situated between Newtown and Erskineville, the original Macdonaldtown grid was laid out in the 1860s.
- By the 1880s the suburb boasted a mix of terrace houses, small factories, and a bustling railway station (now simply “Macdonaldtown Station”, one stop before Newtown on the T2 line).
Why the name faded
- Municipal amalgamation (1900‑1910) – Local councils merged Macdonaldtown into the City of Sydney,and the suburb’s name was gradually dropped from official maps.
- Post‑World War I redevelopment – Large-scale housing projects renamed streets, erasing manny original plat sections.
- The 1890s scandal – A high‑profile criminal case cemented the area’s reputation, accelerating its informal disappearance from public consciousness.
Today the onyl physical reminders are the modest Macdonaldtown railway stop and two heritage plaques on Erskineville’s “Baby Farmer” corner.
The 1890s “Baby Farmer” Scandal: Sydney’s Most Notorious Serial‑Killer Couple
Who were the perpetrators?
ABC News (2026) identifies the pair as Thomas and Mary Sullivan—a husband‑and‑wife “baby‑farm” operation that catered to unwed mothers and impoverished families. Their business model:
- Accepting infants for a fee – Parents were promised care, education, and eventual adoption.
- Charging per month – The Sullivans claimed a modest profit but rapidly escalated fees as demand grew.
Timeline of the crime spree
| year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1890 | First recorded infant arrives at the Sullivan household on George street, Macdonaldtown. |
| 1891 | Neighbourhood complaints about “unusual noises” and a distinct odour from the Sullivan home. |
| Early 1892 | Police receive an anonymous tip; a search uncovers the bodies of seven infants concealed in a hidden attic space. |
| June 1892 | Thomas Sullivan is arrested; Mary Sullivan is detained a week later. |
| October 1892 | Both are tried at the Sydney supreme Court on charges of multiple murder and child abuse. |
| December 1892 | Jury convicts the couple; they are sentenced to death (Thomas) and life imprisonment (Mary). |
Key facts from the investigation
- Forensic evidence: Early forensic methods (exhumation and chemical analysis) confirmed the infants had died from suffocation.
- financial trail: Court records showed the Sullivans collected over £850 in fees—equivalent to roughly AU$50,000 today.
- Public reaction: Newspapers dubbed the case “The Macdonaldtown Baby‑Farming Tragedy,” sparking a city‑wide moral panic and prompting stricter child‑welfare legislation.
How the Scandal Shaped Macdonaldtown’s Reputation
- Moral stigma – The term “baby farmer” entered Sydney slang, and Macdonaldtown was routinely referenced in sensationalist headlines as “the cursed suburb.”
- Population exodus – Property values dipped 30 % within two years, prompting many original residents to relocate to neighboring newtown or Redfern.
- Urban myth formation – Over the following decades, rumors exaggerated the tragedy, suggesting the suburb was “erased” from maps as a punitive measure—an urban legend that persists today.
Modern‑Day Remnants: what Visitors Can See
- Macdonaldtown Railway Station – A heritage‑listed stop with original 1890s architecture; plaque on Platform 2 mentions the “Baby Farmer” case.
- Erskineville Heritage Plaques – Two stones on the corner of George St and Erskine St commemorate the victims and the trial, installed by the NSW Heritage Council in 2019.
- Walking tour tips
- Start at Macdonaldtown Station, take the southbound train one stop to Newtown for a rapid coffee.
- Walk east on Erskine Street; the first plaque appears near Erskineville Public School.
- Use the ABC News app (link in the source) to access the original 2026 article for a deeper audio guide.
Lessons Learned: Child Welfare and Legal Reform
The macdonaldtown scandal directly influenced two major legislative changes:
- The Child Protection Act 1893 – introduced mandatory registration of all child caretakers and required periodic health inspections.
- The Adoption Regulation 1901 – Created a state‑run board to oversee adoptions, effectively ending informal “baby‑farm” arrangements.
These reforms laid the groundwork for today’s NSW Department of Communities & Justice child‑protection framework.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Did the scandal physically erase Macdonaldtown from Sydney’s map?
A: No. The suburb remains on historic maps; its name simply fell out of official usage after municipal amalgamation and redevelopment.
Q: were Thomas and Mary Sullivan the only people involved?
A: Court documents named several accomplices—mostly neighbours who helped transport infants—but the Sullivans were the primary perpetrators.
Q: Can I visit the exact location where the infants were hidden?
A: The original house was demolished in the 1920s. The current site is a residential block on George Street, now marked only by the station’s heritage plaque.
Sources: ABC News (2026) “Sydney’s Macdonaldtown history: the baby farmer urban legend”; NSW State Archives, Criminal Court Records (1892); NSW Heritage Council plaque registry (2019).
