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Victoria - Organisation

Morning Star Boys' Home (c. 1936 - 1975)

  • Morning Star Estate

    Morning Star Estate, 2011, courtesy of Panoramio.
    Details

From
c. 1936
To
1975
Categories
Catholic, Farm School, Home and Reformatory
Alternative Names
  • Morning Star Reformatory School
  • Morning Star Youth Training Centre

The Morning Star Boys' Home in Mount Eliza (Mornington ) was established in 1932, and run by the Franciscan Brothers. It was a training centre for young offending boys. Morning Star ceased operation in September 1975.

Details

In 1932, the Archbishop of Melbourne received a bequest, part of the purpose of which was 'to found a farm to train delinquent or orphan boys to country life'. The legacy was given to the St Vincent de Paul Society of Victoria which used it to acquire a property on the Mornington Peninsula.

The Franciscan Friars entered into an agreement with the St Vincent de Paul Society, to provide educational, correctional and residential care services at Morning Star. The Society retained control and ownership of the property and its finances, and was responsible for its maintenance. Later, the Society returned the property to the Archdiocese, with which the Franciscans continued the original agreement.

Research conducted by the Care Leavers Australia Network (CLAN) in 2012 into the Victorian Police Gazettes indicated a high rate of absconding from Morning Star. Members of CLAN gave evidence to the Victorian Inquiry into handling of child abuse by religious and other organisations in December 2012. Leonie Sheedy, presenting the findings of the research into absconding, said: 'Thousands of children absconded from homes as their only way of getting away from abusers.' In February 2013, the Inquiry heard allegations of widespread abuse of children at Morning Star.

The closure of Morning Star in 1975 placed further strain on government-run services for youth, particularly at Turana and Malmsbury.

In 2002, the former dormitory wing became part of a boutique 'country house' hotel.

Location

1958 - 1975
Location - The Morning Star Boys' Home was located in Sunnyside Road, Mount Eliza (Mornington). Location: Mount Eliza

Run By

Related Archival Collections

Related Organisations

  • Padua Hall (1945 - 1960)

    Padua Hall has been described as an 'adjunct' to the Morning Star Home.

  • St Vincent de Paul Society (1854 - )

    The St Vincent de Paul Society retained control and ownership of the property upon which Morning Star was situated, and was responsible for its finances and its maintenance.

    Date: c. 1936 - c. 1975

Publications

Books

  • Patterson, Jeffrey with Robert Hillman, What a life!, Ibis, South Melbourne, 2005. Details

Newspaper Articles

  • Turner, Laurence, 'Victoria's Unwanted Children - 6: Willing Hearts Handicapped by Lack of Cash', The Herald, 31 October 1952, p. 5. Details

Reports

  • Merritt, D.R., Child Care Staffs in Institutions: report on survey undertaken for the Children's Welfare Advisory Council to determine the need for courses of training, Government Printer, Melbourne, 1957. Details

Resource Sections

  • Victorian Inquiry into Handling of Child Abuse by Religious and Other Non-Government Organisations, Care Leavers Australia Network (CLAN), Care Leavers Australia Network, 2012. Details

Online Resources

Photos

Art - Sculpture - Statue in Boys' Home - Madonna and child in wrought iron at Morning Star Boys' Home, Mornington
Title
Art - Sculpture - Statue in Boys' Home - Madonna and child in wrought iron at Morning Star Boys' Home, Mornington
Type
Image

Details

The Chapel, Morning Star Youth Training Centre
Title
The Chapel, Morning Star Youth Training Centre
Type
Image
Date
c. 1965

Details

Modern gymnasium at Morning Star Youth Training Centre
Title
Modern gymnasium at Morning Star Youth Training Centre
Type
Image
Date
c. 1971

Details

Morning Star Youth Training Centre
Title
Morning Star Youth Training Centre
Type
Image
Date
c. 1971

Details

Morning Star Estate
Title
Morning Star Estate
Type
Image
Date
2011
Source
Panoramio

Details

Sources used to compile this entry: 'A Piece of the Story': National Directory of Records of Catholic organisations caring for children separated from their families, Australian Catholic Social Welfare Commission & Australian Conference of Leaders of Religious Institutes, November 1999, http://www.findandconnect.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/A-Piece-of-the-Story-Directory-of-Catholic-Records-.pdf; Victorian Inquiry into Handling of Child Abuse by Religious and Other Non-Government Organisations, Care Leavers Australia Network (CLAN), Care Leavers Australia Network, 2012; Merritt, D.R., Child Care Staffs in Institutions: report on survey undertaken for the Children's Welfare Advisory Council to determine the need for courses of training, Government Printer, Melbourne, 1957; Morning Star Estate, Morning Star Estate, Mt Eliza, https://web.archive.org/web/20210309164548/http://www.morningstarestate.com.au/; Rintoul, Stuart, Priest blasts church's response to child abuse, The Australian, 16 February 2013, http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/priest-blasts-churchs-response-to-child-abuse/story-e6frg6nf-1226579175831.

Prepared by: Cate O'Neill