Elsie Refuge, in Glebe, is an icon of Sydney feminism and Australian domestic violence services. Established in 1974 by Women's Liberation, it was the first refuge for women and children organised on feminist principles and was pivotal to the recognition of the social problem of domestic violence. In 2014, after changes to government funding arrangements, Elsie is no longer independently-run, but the story of the foundation of this pioneering service is a vital part of the history of Glebe, of Sydney, and of Australian feminism.
