Elsie Refuge

[2] In March 1974, Summers, Dakers and other women activists, including Bessie Guthrie, Robyn Kemmis, Kris Melmouth, Margaret Power, Carol Baker, Diana Beaton, Christina Gibbeson and Trudy Brickwood squatted an abandoned property at 73-75 Westmoreland Street, Glebe and set up the refuge in response to the lack of services and support available to women and children suffering from domestic violence.

[2][3][4][5][6] It was estimated that lesbians made up about 50% of the activist staff at the Elsie Refuge and associated Rape Crisis Centre set up nearby in Glebe by Kris Melmouth.

They were one of a number of activist groups who squatted in derelict houses in the Anglican Church owned "Glebe Estate" in the pathway of a proposed freeway, part of which was to pass through the area.

The building, along with the other 700 dwellings on Glebe Estate, was purchased from the Anglican Church by the Whitlam government in 1974 and the refuge was granted a lease.

The Whitlam government established the Department of Urban and Regional Development, which fought back against the proposed expressway and redevelopment projects, and provided funding for the refuge.