About

Deloraine House first opened its doors in August 1989 when a group of community members got together and decided that a central place that would help people to support people in their communities to reach their full potential was needed.

A group of dedicated and determined community members embarked on a massive fundraising endeavour to raise the funds needed to purchase the building. Initially it was envisaged that St Hildas, an old school building in East Barrack Street would be purchased for the purpose but this did not eventuate and 112 Emu Bay Road, Deloraine was bought and became the home of Deloraine House Inc. The community raised $55, 000 to purchase the building, with $12000 of the funds being made up from the kindness of donations.

The aim of the house was to allow community members to increase opportunities to be involved in their communities through personal development and social opportunities. A core goal for the house was to create a space where people could meet comfortably and reduce social isolation, encourage community involvement and tackle more serious social problems.

Deloraine House Inc. was managed under the peak Tasmanian Association of Community Houses (TACH), now known as Neighbourhood House Tasmania. TACH was formed by a group of volunteers in 1985 to collectively represent and support the work of Houses within their communities and across the state. For fifteen years, TACH was governed and run by a volunteer management committee with no recurrent funding. In 2000, the State Government acknowledged the importance of Neighbourhood Houses by providing funding for an Executive Officer. This funding has increased in recent years and now provides the equivalent of two full time positions to work in support of the 35  houses funded through the Department of Premier and Cabinet-, of which Deloraine House is one.

Deloraine House was a creative response to a situation where there was little government money available and a minimal commitment to upgrading of resources in the community by official bodies. Today, Deloraine House draws the majority of its funding from Department of Communities Tasmania, in addition to other grants and organisations.