Some people may find content on this website distressing. Read more
South Australia - Organisation

Methodist Children's Home (1905 - 1924)

  • Opening of Methodist Children's Homes, March 4th 1905

    Opening of Methodist Children's Homes, March 4th 1905, 4 March 1905, courtesy of Uniting Communities.
    Details

From
1905
To
1924
Categories
Children's Home, Home and Methodist

The Methodist Children's Home opened in 1905 at Largs Bay. Run by the Adelaide Central Methodist Mission, it initially provided accommodation for 10 to 12 children. In 1911 the Home moved to site at Magill and Greenslade Home was built and opened in 1912. In 1921 a second building, Roberts Home, opened to provide accommodation for boys aged 9 to 13. Greenslade then took in girls and younger boys. From 1924, when further buildings were added the institution became known as the Methodist Children's Homes.

Details

The Methodist Children's Home opened in 1905 in a six roomed cottage in Havelock Street, Largs Bay. According to a history of the Adelaide Central Mission, this original cottage at Largs Bay was donated to the Methodist church by Mr and Mrs J P Roberts. After reading an article about children in need in the Central Mission News, they donated their holiday home at Largs Bay to be used for residential care. The Home officially opened on 10 February 1905 with Matron Miss P. Stephenson in charge.

The 1910 Annual report of the Adelaide Central Methodist Mission Children's Home provided the following information about the placement of children in the Home:

All the admissions have been cases of real distress; children sometimes taken to relieve parents too ill to attend to their households, or at other times admitted because they are orphans or in want of the necessities of life. The 'cots' have been constantly occupied, and at present are still full, there being 10 children in residence.

In a newspaper article written at the time of the opening of the Home, it was noted that:

The present home is only intended as the nucleus of a more elaborate system which is in contemplation.

In 1911 the Mission appointed a sub-committee to find a suitable property for extending the work of the Home. When no appropriate building could be found, the committee made the decision to buy land instead and erect a purpose built facility. That same year the Methodist Church purchased six acres of land at Magill and began building. On 7 December 1912 Greenslade Home opened.

In 1921 a further building was added to the property know as Roberts Home. This new premises accommodated boys between the ages of 9 and 13. Greenslade Home was then used for younger boys and girls of all ages. From 1924 new buildings were added to the property and the institution became known as the Methodist Children's Homes.

Location

1905 - 1912
Location - Methodist Children's Home was situated at Havelock Street, Largs Bay. Location: Largs Bay
1912 - 1924
Location - Methodist Children's Home was situated at Penfold Road, Magill. Location: Magill

Timeline

 1905 - 1924 Methodist Children's Home
       1924 - 1960 Methodist Children's Homes
             1960 - 1977 Lentara

Related Archival Collections

Related Organisations

  • Greenslade Home (1912 - 1976)

    Greenslade Home was the first building to operate at the new Magill site of the Methodist Children's Home after it moved from Largs Bay in 1912

    Date: 1912 - 1924

  • Roberts Home (1921 - 1954)

    Roberts Home was the second residence for children opened at the Methodist Children's Home in Magill

    Date: 1921 - 1924

Publications

Books

  • Adelaide Central Mission - A Photographic Exhibition 1901-2001, 2001. Details
  • Bailey, Ivor, Mission story: the story of the Adelaide Central Mission, 1987. Details

Online Resources

Photos

Opening of Methodist Children's Homes, March 4th 1905
Title
Opening of Methodist Children's Homes, March 4th 1905
Type
Image
Date
4 March 1905
Source
Uniting Communities

Details

Methodist Children's Home - Greenslade Home
Title
Methodist Children's Home - Greenslade Home
Type
Image
Date
c. 1912
Source
Uniting Communities

Details

A group of children outside Magill Orphans Home
Title
A group of children outside Magill Orphans Home
Type
Image
Date
1922
Source
State Library of South Australia

Details

Sources used to compile this entry: 'Methodist Children's Home', The Advertiser (Adelaide, South Australia), 6 March 1905, p. 5, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5040275; Bailey, Ivor, Mission story: the story of the Adelaide Central Mission, 1987; George, Karen, Finding your own way, Nunkuwarrin Yunti of South Australia Inc., 2005, http://nunku.org.au/resources/; Annual reports of the Adelaide Central Methodist Mission (1910-1952).

Prepared by: Karen George and Gary George