Blue Mountains News

Clairvaux has a long history as a cultural and community hub since it ceased to be a children’s home in 1990. Since 1994, community organisations have operated from the premises, delivering essential services and support to the Blue Mountains community. 

Over several years, the NSW Government has been gradually evicting longstanding tenants from the premises and has terminated all existing leases. This leaves the remaining tenants – the Blue Mountains Aboriginal Cultural and Resource Centre, Greystanes Disability Services and Blue Mountains Wildplant Rescue Service – facing an uncertain future and possible closure. 

Blue Mountains Mayor Mark Greenhill said, “These organisations play a valuable role in the local community, providing services to vulnerable people and the environment.  

“Clairvaux’s role in Australian social history has special significance to members of the Stolen Generations and the First Nations people of the region, and its sale represents a betrayal of their decades of work to turn this site into a place of healing and community resilience. 

“We are calling on the NSW Government to keep the Clairvaux Centre for the community, in recognition of its historical and contemporary significance to the people of the Blue Mountains.” 

Council is prepared to take over ownership of the site subject to funding for essential renovations to allow the existing tenants to remain and would also explore options for affordable housing on the site.