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Northern Territory - Organisation

Palmerston House (1963 - 1975)

  • Palmerston House

    Palmerston House, 1960, by Tanner, John, courtesy of National Archives of Australia.
    Details

From
1963
To
1975
Categories
Children's Home, Government-run, Home and Receiving Home
Alternative Names
  • Adolescent Receiving Home (Also known as)
  • Receiving Home (Also known as)

Palmerston House was established in Darwin by the government in July 1963 as a Receiving Home for adolescent girls from the temporary Adolescent Receiving Home. In 1963 it accommodated seven girls, 5 of whom were State Children between 13 and 17 years old. During 1967-68 111 girls were accommodated at Palmerston House. Palmerston House moved to a new location in 1972 in the former Central Training Establishment building and closed in 1975.

Details

Palmerston House was established at Myilly Point in July 1963 as a Receiving Home for adolescent girls. The girls were moved to this new location from a temporary Home known as the Adolescent Receiving Home which had been operating in Mitchell Street, Darwin. Palmerston House often took in up to 28 girls who remained there for varying lengths of time.

Adolescent girls had initially been placed with younger children in the Receiving Home in Mitchell Street, Darwin. When Dundas House was built as a Receiving Home for younger children, the older children remained for a short time in the original home before being moved to another former departmental residence in the same street as a temporary measure. They remained there until 1963 when they were moved to a larger premises on the corner of Kahlin Avenue and Temira Crescent. This residence, formerly the home of a magistrate, became known as Palmerston House in July 1963.

A memo written by the Assistant Director of Welfare in October 1963 noted that Palmerston House was Home to seven girls. Five of these were 'State Children' aged between 13 and 17. They had already been resident in the Home for a long period of time and were expected to remain there until after they turned 18. The two other girls were referred to as 'non-paying boarders'. The Assistant Director commented that this situation showed that:

this institution bears no relation to its original purpose as a temporary receiving home for neglected or delinquent adolescent girls.

In an NT Administration report from 1967-68 it states that 111 girls were accommodated at Palmerston House during that financial year.

Palmerston House moved to a new location in 1972 in former the Central Training Establishment Building and the building at Myilly Point became Tambling House. Palmerston House at the new location closed in 1975.

Location

1963 - 1972
Address - Palmerston House was located at Section 1102, corner Kahlin Street and Temira Crescent, Myilly Point. Location: Myilly Point
1972 - 1975
Location - Palmerston House was located at Darwin. Location: Darwin

Timeline

 1956 - 1957 Fannie Bay Receiving Home
       1957 - 1961 Receiving Home, Darwin
             1961 - 1963 Adolescent Receiving Home
                   1963 - 1975 Palmerston House

Publications

Reports

  • Commonwealth of Australia, The Northern Territory Report for 1961-62, Canberra, 1964. Details
  • Commonwealth of Australia, Northern Territory Report for 1963-1964, Canberra, 1965. Details
  • Commonwealth of Australia, Northern Territory Report for 1967-1968, Canberra, 1969. Details

Photos

Palmerston House
Title
Palmerston House
Type
Image
Date
1960
Creator
Tanner, John
Source
National Archives of Australia

Details

Sources used to compile this entry: Commonwealth of Australia, The Northern Territory Report for 1961-62, Canberra, 1964; Commonwealth of Australia, Northern Territory Report for 1963-1964, Canberra, 1965; Commonwealth of Australia, Northern Territory Report for 1967-1968, Canberra, 1969; NAA: F1, 1972/4158, Palmerston House - Receiving Home for Adolescent Girls, Darwin, 1960-1976; NAA: F1, 1975/2529, Child Welfare Ordinance - Approval of Institutions, 1959-1977; F1411 Social Development files, SD 47, Monthly reports on SD Branch Activities 1974-75, NTAS, Darwin.

Prepared by: Karen George and Gary George