The Nizam of Hyderabad, Mahboob Ali Khan, had drawings made for a hunting lodge as early as 1882.

In 1904, on occasion of the death of Queen Victoria, the British Resident asked the Nizam to set up an institute in her memory.

[6] The latter issued a royal firman to set up the Victoria Memorial Orphanage at the Saroornagar Palace.

[3] In 1953, the word "orphanage" was replaced by "home" due to a request by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

[6] In 2017, the government announced a plan to hand over a part of the orphanage to house the Rachakonda Police Commissionerate.