The Lutheran Church purchased the home for $10,000 and renovated and remodelled it to make it suitable for accommodating children. At its commencement, the home accommodated eight children, one was a sixteen month old baby and another a toddler of two years of age. The building had seven rooms, plus laundry, storeroom and bathrooms. The children slept in two bedrooms, one with two single beds and another with four beds and a cot. A common room or play room was provided and an outdoor play area. School-age children attended St Johns Day School or the Unley Primary School and on Sundays went to the St John's Church and Sunday School.

The first house parents of the home were Mr and Mrs Gogel of Waikerie. In 1968 they were joined by an assistant housemother who had been trained at the Wanslea Children's Home. By 1971 a new matron was in charge, Matron Kumnick. Additions were made to the premises so that she lived in a separate self-contained flat. Further additions to the home were made in 1975. The home was licensed by the Department for Community Welfare as an institution for children aged from 12 months to 12 years. They could remain for up to 12 weeks, with extensions allowed with the approval of the home management committee. In 1978 the home reported to the government's Residential Child Care Advisory Committee that during the month of August, it had cared for sixteen children from seven different families and the average length of care was twenty-two days. The home continued to operate in the same manner until late in 1984. The property is still owned by the Lutheran Church and is now known as Amandus. It operates as a home for people with disabilities.

Events

1966 - 1984

Lutheran Emergency Home for Children situated at 1 Edmund Street, Unley. Location: Unley