Leonie Knapman has undertaken research into the Farm, renamed Renwick in 1976.

Berrima District Historical Society (BDHS) publicity officer Philip Morton said the talk would go into "fascinating detail" about the homes.

"The cottage homes [used by the Mittagong welfare system] when closed in 1994 [were[ the oldest still operating in Australia," he said.

"The local district's role in caring for state wards and for children from deprived circumstances is a significant and poignant history spanning over a century."

All are welcome to attend talk on July 28 at 2pm.

The talk will be held upstairs in the Old Council Chambers Research Centre (Playhouse Building), Bowral Road, Mittagong.

For more details, call 4872 2169.