It was named after Mr Frederick John McNally who had been Chairman of the Children's Welfare and Public Relief Board and head of the Department from 1946 until his retirement in 1961. In 1968, when the new buildings were completed, the old Reformatory building was demolished. The new premises initially accommodated 164 boys in ten four-bed dormitories, fourteen cubicles and ten single rooms. The building also contained extensive recreation areas, workshops, kitchen and dining areas, offices and staff areas.

Formal schooling by Education Department teachers was available at the Centre as well as training in various trades and crafts. Boys also worked in the farm, garden, dairy, poultry run and piggery. Social activities, involvement in sport and religious observances were all encouraged. A separate chapel was built on the site and services for each denomination were regularly held there.

McNally's also provided a Security Section for boys whose behaviour required them to be separated from the rest of the inmates. Once boys completed a program of training at the Centre they were released into the community under the supervision of a Probation Officer for the remainder of their sentence.

In 1972 the Department of Community Welfare took over administration of the home, and because of the requirements of the Juvenile Courts Act of 1971 new assessment procedures were introduced. A 'Programme Panel' was also set up to develop an individual training program for each boy and a Review Board made a monthly assessment of his progress. In 1972 new unit style living was introduced at the Centre and boys were allocated to one of the six available units, or the Security section, based on their initial assessment. By the late 1970s three living units were providing short-term accommodation for boys in temporary police custody or on remand. Other units were designated for boys committed to the institution for longer term training. Normally between twelve and eighteen boys were housed in each unit.

In 1975 a separate unit of the McNally Training Centre, a working boys' hostel, was opened on the site of the Glandore Children's Home. Boys there were housed in buildings vacated by younger boys who had recently been moved to Seaforth Home. This unit provided non-secure residential accommodation for boys who were working in the community.

In 1979 the name of McNally Training Centre was changed to the South Australian Youth Training Centre.

Events

1967 - 1979

McNally Training Centre situated at Glen Stuart Road, Magill. Location: Magill