The name ‘Doutta Galla’ was given to the western bank of the Moonee Ponds Creek by Robert Hoddle in 1837. History indicates that the name has indigenous origins however the exact origin of the name is not known. It has been suggested that the name originated from a reference in John Batman’s Treaty of Melbourne to the Chief of an original tribe named “Dutigalla”. Others have suggested that ‘Doutta Galla’ was named after the wife of an indigenous man (Jika Jika) who worked with John Batman. Alternatively, some believe that it is a European corruption of an Aboriginal name for the area, most likely “N’uthergalla”.

In 1937 the electorate of ‘Doutta Galla’ was officially formed as part of the Victorian Legislative Council and underwent various re-divisions up until 2006 when it was dissolved.

The origins of the organisation date back to the late 1980’s when a forward thinking group of concerned community members, who firmly believed that there was a real and genuine need for a charitable, non-denominational aged care organisation to service the needs of the elderly in the electorate of Doutta Galla, and the western inner suburbs more generally got together.

With strong and early support from the City of Melbourne Council, our organisation was officially launched on 12 April 1991 with our first facility, Lynch’s Bridge built and opened in 1992.

The organisation’s earliest mission was to ensure that all individuals within our community should have access to affordable and good quality aged care services – regardless of their individual socio-economic status, race, gender, ethnicity, religion, or culture. These aspirations remain an integral part of our mission, vision and values today and will continue to shape the strategic direction of the organisation into the future.