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South Australia - Organisation

Clark Cottage, Clarence Park (1963 - 1979)

  • Clark Cottage

    Clark Cottage, c. 1963, courtesy of Annual Report of the Children's Welfare and Public Relief Board, 1963.
    Details

From
1963
To
1979
Categories
Cottage Home, Government-run and Home

Clark Cottage was opened at Clarence Park by the Children's Welfare and Public Relief Department in 1963. It accommodated up to ten children who were wards of the State in cottage -style living. They attended local schools and churches. Clark Cottage closed in 1979. The site was then used for the Southern Region Admission Unit.

Details

Clark Cottage at 28 William Street, Clarence Park, was acquired by the Children's Welfare and Public Relief Department in1962. It was one of a number of properties purchased by the government in the 1960s to be used as cottage style accommodation for State children. Departmental Annual Reports from the period stress the belief that cottage style care would enable greater individual attention for each child and that children living in cottage style accommodations would be less conspicuous as 'State' children.

After some renovation, Clark Cottage was opened on 31 January 1963 and accommodated up to ten children. Children attended local schools and churches. Miss EM Dobbin was the first cottage mother. Clark cottage was named after Miss CE Clark who was an early member of the State Children's Council.

Clark cottage closed on 24 May 1979. The site was then used for the Southern Region Admission Unit.

Location

1963 - 1979
Address - Clark Cottage was situated at 28 William Street, Clarence Park. Location: Clarence Park

Timeline

 1963 - 1979 Clark Cottage, Clarence Park
       1979 - c. 1990 Southern Region Admission Unit
             c. 1990 - c. 1992 Clarence Park Assessment Unit

Related Organisations

  • Colton Cottage, Thorngate (1965 - 1982)

    The Department created six Cottage Homes in the 1960s. These included Merrilama Cottage, Stirling Cottage, Clark Cottage, Spence Cottage, Colton Cottage and Hay Cottage.

  • Hay Cottage, Lockleys (1968 - 1979)

    The Department created six Cottage Homes in the 1960s. These included Merrilama Cottage, Stirling Cottage, Clark Cottage, Spence Cottage, Colton Cottage and Hay Cottage.

  • Merrilama Cottage, Glenelg (1960 - 1979)

    The Department created six Cottage Homes in the 1960s. These included Merrilama Cottage, Stirling Cottage, Clark Cottage, Spence Cottage, Colton Cottage and Hay Cottage.

  • Spence Cottage, Kensington Gardens (1963 - 1980)

    The Department created six Cottage Homes in the 1960s. These included Merrilama Cottage, Stirling Cottage, Clark Cottage, Spence Cottage, Colton Cottage and Hay Cottage.

  • Stirling Cottage, St Peters (1962 - 1979)

    The Department created six Cottage Homes in the 1960s. These included Merrilama Cottage, Stirling Cottage, Clark Cottage, Spence Cottage, Colton Cottage and Hay Cottage.

Publications

Online Resources

Photos

Clarke Cottage - children's playroom and sitting room
Title
Clarke Cottage - children's playroom and sitting room
Type
Image
Date
c. 1963
Source
Annual Report of the Children's Welfare and Public Relief Board, 1963

Details

Clark Cottage
Title
Clark Cottage
Type
Image
Date
c. 1963
Source
Annual Report of the Children's Welfare and Public Relief Board, 1963

Details

Sources used to compile this entry: George, Karen, Finding your own way, Nunkuwarrin Yunti of South Australia Inc., 2005, http://nunku.org.au/resources/; Mullighan, the Hon E.P., Children in State Care Commission of Inquiry: Allegations of sexual abuse and death from criminal conduct, presented to the South Australian Parliament by the Hon. E.P. Mullighan QC, Commisioner, Children in State Care Commission of Enquiry, Adelaide, South Australia, 2008, 564 pp, https://www.childprotection.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/107201/children-in-state-care-commission-of-inquiry-introducation.pdf.

Prepared by: Melissa Downing