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South Australia - Organisation

Ilfracombe, Boys Reformatory (1869 - 1880)

  • Ilfracombe Boys' Reformatory

    Ilfracombe Boys' Reformatory, 1870? - 1880?, courtesy of Gunton Eric, Gracious homes of colonial Adelaide, 1983.
    Details

From
1869
To
1880
Categories
Government-run, Home and Reformatory

Ilfracombe Boys Reformatory opened in Burnside in 1869. Run by the government it took in a number of boys convicted of offences who had been accommodated in the Grace Darling Hotel, Brighton. Other boys were sent to the Boys Reformatory, Magill. Ilfracombe closed in 1880 when the boys from both reformatories were moved to the Reformatory Hulk, the Fitzjames.

Details

In 1866 the majority of children were moved out of the Destitute Asylum as a result of the passing of the new Destitute Persons Relief Act. Boys who had been convicted of offences were among the large group of children relocated briefly to the Exhibition Building on North Terrace and then to the Grace Darling Hotel at Brighton.

Due to overcrowding and pervading illness at the Hotel, however, all children there were moved to other institutions. In December 1869, a number of the boys were moved to a former mansion in Burnside known as Ilfracombe. The remainder went to the new Boys Reformatory at Magill.

In its 1869 report, the Destitute Board commented on conditions at Ilfracombe. It also stated that the boys were involved in shoemaking, stone-breaking, road-building shed building and gardening. The report also explained that:

The building itself, which in some parts was dilapidated, has been, by several of the boys, with the help of the master, repaired, plastered.

A newspaper article the following year commended the work the boys had done to the old building noting that:

The whole of the improvements necessary to transform a private residence into a Reformatory Institution are being carried out by the boys themselves without any external mechanical assistance whatever.

Rosamond and Florence Hill, English sisters who visited Ilfracombe in 1873, commented on the rough living conditions under which the 25 boys were living. However, they were impressed with the boys themselves whom they described as appearing healthy and happy. The boys attended school for two hours each day and were kept occupied at other times with caring for cows and pigs, making shoes and straw covers for wine bottles.

Ilfracombe continued to operate as a Boys Reformatory until 1880 when the boys from there and those from the Boys' Reformatory, Magill, were transferred to the Reformatory Hulk, the Fitzjames.

Location

1869 - 1880
Location - Ilfracombe Boys Reformatory was situated at Burnside. Location: Burnside

Timeline

 1869 - 1880 Ilfracombe, Boys Reformatory
       1880 - 1891 Boys' Reformatory Hulk, Fitzjames
             1891 - 1967 Boys Reformatory, Magill
                   1967 - 1979 McNally Training Centre
                         1979 - 1993 South Australian Youth Training Centre
                               1993 - 2012 Magill Training Centre
                                     2012 - Adelaide Youth Training Centre

Related Archival Series

  • Minutes - Destitute Board (1849 - 1927)

    Held by State Records of SA. These minutes give brief details of cases and general business considered by the Destitute Board. They may include information related to Illfracombe.

Related Organisations

Publications

Books

  • Dickey, Brian, Rations, Residence, Resources: A history of social welfare in South Australia since 1836, Wakefield Press, Adelaide, 1986. Details

Online Resources

Photos

Ilfracombe, facing north
Title
Ilfracombe, facing north
Type
Image
Date
c. 1847
Source
Local and Family History - Vertical Files, Burnside Library

Details

Ilfracombe Boys' Reformatory
Title
Ilfracombe Boys' Reformatory
Type
Image
Date
1870? - 1880?
Source
Gunton Eric, Gracious homes of colonial Adelaide, 1983

Details

Stonyfell wine label
Title
Stonyfell wine label
Type
Image
Date
1962? - 1972?
Source
Local and Family History - Veritcal Files, Burnside Library

Details

Sources used to compile this entry: 'DESTITUTION IN 1869', South Australian Register (Adelaide, South Australia), Supplement to the South Australian Register, 23 April 1870, p. 2, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article39201829; 'No title', South Australian Register (Adelaide, South Australia), 14 January 1870, p. 5, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article39205941; George, Karen, Finding your own way, Nunkuwarrin Yunti of South Australia Inc., 2005, http://nunku.org.au/resources/.

Prepared by: Karen George and Gary George