A new domestic violence refuge has opened in Liverpool, offering a lifeline to women and children escaping violence in a region where around 500 calls for help are recorded each month.
Ellara House, a five-bedroom crisis shelter, was officially opened by NSW Minister for Housing and Homelessness Rose Jackson and will support about 20 women and up to 45 children each year.
The refuge comes amid significant demand, with 1,341 domestic violence-related assaults recorded across Liverpool in the 12 months to March 2026, a rate higher than the NSW average.
Liverpool Women’s Shelter Chair Cheryl Macnaught said the refuge was driven by a community determined to address the shortage of crisis accommodation.
“This idea came from the community, was built by the community, and is for the community. Ellara House is testament to what is possible when everyone comes together to find a solution to ending domestic, family and sexual violence,” Macnaught said.
The independent, community-led service can accommodate up to five families at a time, providing trauma-informed accommodation, case management and practical support.
Minister Jackson said having somewhere safe to go could make all the difference.
“For women and children escaping violence, having a safe place to go can make all the difference. Ellara House has the wraparound support that helps victim-survivors to recover and rebuild their lives,” she said.
Women’s Community Shelters supported more than 2,000 people across its 13 shelters last year, but Director of Housing Sue Cripps said demand remained high.
“For every woman we supported, there were another two that we could not,” Cripps said.
Ellara House was made possible through support from community leaders, businesses, government, volunteers and philanthropists, including Moorebank Sports Club, Liverpool Catholic Club, the Hunt Family Community Foundation and Temple & Webster.
The refuge will begin intake and outreach in the coming weeks.
