Karitane Mothercraft Society Founded by the late Sir Truby King, C.M.G, M.B, B.Sc

Karitane had its beginning in December 1907 in New Zealand founded by Dr Truby King who was concerned with the high infant mortality rate. Although his motto was "BREAST FED IS BEST FED", this was a time when there was no formula for mothers unable to feed their infants, hence the high mortality rate. He then commenced clinics and experimented with milk formula with great success.

Karitane is a place name in New Zealand, a beach township about 45 kilometres north of Dunedin. Dr Truby King founded the Royal Society for the Health of Women and Children in 1907 in Dunedin. He owned a house at Karitane, where he and his wife provided care for thirteen malnourished, ailing babies. Dr Truby King was able to put into practice his ideas about infant feeding when breastfeeding was impossible. He employed a trained nurse and taught her his methods. At the same time, with the help of Lady Plunket, wife of the Governor of New Zealand, he organised fundraising committees and established a centre offering advice to mothers (Plunket philosophy) and the training of registered nurses. This centre became known as a Mothercraft Hospital. Subsequently, a number of these Mothercraft Hospitals were set up in the larger cities and provinces of New Zealand.

Sir Truby King founded the "Australian Mothercraft Society" in May 1923. The Society adopted the same constitution, aims and objectives as the New Zealand Society and maintained an affiliation with the original organisation. A number of parents and their friends, whose babies had benefited from the work of the Plunket Society in New Zealand and London, formed the first Council of the Australian Mothercraft Society. These were the first Australians who raised funds and supported this vital area of maternal and child health.

The first Australian Mothercraft Home was opened in a cottage at Coogee in 1924. Miss McMillian was sent from New Zealand by Sir Truby King and became the first Matron. She also inaugurated the first baby clinic that year, which was located in the City at 283 Elizabeth Street. The Society grew rapidly and a larger hospital was established at Woollahra in 1927. Additional clinics were established throughout the outer areas of Sydney and as the population spread further, mobile clinics were provided to support mothers as far south as Wollongong & Picton, west to the new Hills district and north to Berowra.

Karitane moved to Randwick in 1974, where a Family Care Centre still operates. Due to the increasing needs of parents in the South Western Sydney Region, Karitane relocated to its current location at Carramar in 1994 to support Sydney South West Area Health Service in meeting these needs. This move also included the establishment of a specialized day service that supports women & their families experiencing perinatal mood and related disorders (Jade House), an additional Family Care Centre at Liverpool and a Volunteer Support Program.