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Organisation Bindoon (1936 - 1966)
Bindoon Boys' Home [Western Australia], 1910 - 1962, by Frank Hurley, courtesy of National Library of Australia.
Details
- From
- 1936
- To
- 1966
- Categories
- Care Provider, Catholic and Farm School
- Alternative Names
- Boys’ Town (also known as)
- St Joseph's Farm and Trade School (also known as)
Summary
Bindoon was run by the Christian Brothers as an agricultural school from 1936. A significant amount of child labour was involved in building Bindoon over a number of years. Bindoon admitted boys from various backgrounds including Wards of the State, child migrants, orphans and private admissions. Australian-born boys, and British and Maltese child migrants aged from about 12 to 16 years lived at Bindoon. Bindoon closed in 1966 and the site is now an agricultural high school.
The Christian Brothers' institutions Bindoon, Clontarf, Castledare and Tardun first received widespread publicity about child abuse in the early 1990s. In 1993, the Christian Brothers in Western Australia issued an apology and from 1995 have funded independent services to help with family tracing, counselling and remedial education for men who had suffered in their institutions. Many former residents of these institutions have shared their experiences and memories (bad and good) at government inquiries, in books and in oral histories.
Records
Some records are held by the Christian Brothers Archives and some records are held by the government department responsible for child welfare. Former child migrants can also access information held on the Personal History Index (PHIND). The Battye Library also has general historical information about Bindoon and admission registers can also be accessed there.
Access
While access to personal records is restricted to protect the privacy of individuals, you are very welcome to enquire.
Contact
The Archivist
Christian Brothers
Oceania Support Centre
PO BOX 1129
Bentley DC WA 6983
Phone: (08) 9365 2813
Email: archiveswa@edmundrice.org
For information about children placed by the Child Welfare Department or its successors:
Freedom of Information
Department for Child Protection
PO Box 6334
East Perth WA 6892
Phone: (08) 6217 6388 or (08) 6217 6381
Fax: (08) 9222 2776
Free call in WA: 1800 000 277
Email: foi@dcp.wa.gov.au/
Web:Searching for your family history
For people wishing to access the Battye Library's collection of historical material:
State Library of Western Australia
25 Francis Street
Perth Cultural Centre
Perth WA 6000
Phone: (08) 9427 3111
Fax: (08) 9427 3256
Queries: www.slwa.wa.gov.au/find/information_services
Web:www.slwa.wa.gov.au
Details
Events
- 1936 - 1966
- Bindoon was run by the Christian Brothers on land in the Chittering Valley north of Perth. Location: Bindoon
Related Entries
Run By
Publications
Find & Connect - Western Australia Exhibitions
- On their own: Britain's child migrants, Australian National Maritime Museum and National Museums Liverpool 2010, http://www.britainschildmigrants.com. Details
Books
- Coldrey, Barry M., The Scheme: the Christian Brothers and Childcare in Western Australia, Argyle-Pacific Pub., O'Connor, W.A., 1993. Details
- Humphreys, Laurie, A Chip off What Block?, Laurie Humphreys, Samson, WA, 2007. Details
- Humphreys, Margaret, Empty Cradles, Doubleday, London; Sydney, 1994. Details
- Humphreys, Margaret, Oranges and Sunshine, Corgi, London, 2010. Details
- Welsh, Lionel P, Geordie: orphan of the empire, P&B Press, Perth, 1990. Details
- Welsh, Lionel P, Geordie: an incredible story of the human spirit, ELJAE Press, Victoria Park East, 2004. Details
- Welsh, Lionel P and Byth, Bruce and Welsh, LP (eds), The Bindoon file, P&B Press, Perth, 1990. Details
Reviews
- Murray, Gwenn [independent reviewer], 'A Duty of Care to Children and Young People in Western Australia: Report on the Quality Assurance and Review of Substantiated Allegations of Abuse in Care, 1 April 2004 to 12 September 2005', [Dept. For Community Development?], [Perth, W. A.? ], 2005. Details
Online Resources
- Child migration to Australia - Fact sheet 124, National Archives of Australia, http://www.naa.gov.au/collection/fact-sheets/fs124.aspx. Details
- 'Boy Migrants', The West Australian, 10 August 1938, p. 8, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article42103871. Details
- 'Minutes of Evidence Taken Before the Health Committee on 4 June 1998', in Health - Third Report, House of Commons Health Committee, Parliament of the United Kingdom, 4 June 1998, http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm199798/cmselect/cmhealth/755/8060401.htm. Details
- 'Minutes of Evidence Taken Before the Health Committee on 11 June 1998', in Health - Third Report, House of Commons Health Committee, Parliament of the United Kingdom, 11 June 1998, http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm199798/cmselect/cmhealth/755/8061101.htm. Details
- 'Submission No. 41 Inquiry into Children in Institutional Care: Submissions', in Inquiry into Children in Institutional Care - Submissions received by the committee as at 17/3/05, Senate Community Affairs Committee, Commonwealth of Australia, 23 July 2003, http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate_Committees?url=clac_ctte/completed_inquiries/2004-07/inst_care/submissions/sublist.htm. Details
- 'Submission No. 365 Inquiry into Children in Institutional Care: Submissions', in Inquiry into Children in Institutional Care - Submissions received by the committee as at 17/3/05, Senate Community Affairs Committee, Commonwealth of Australia, 25 March 2004, http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate_Committees?url=clac_ctte/completed_inquiries/2004-07/inst_care/submissions/sublist.htm. Details
- Father Hudson's Society, Father Hudson’s Society, 2008, http://www.fatherhudsons.org.uk. Details
- 'A child migrant story', in Forgotten Australians: life stories, Alliance for Forgotten Australians, 2011, http://www.forgottenaustralians.org.au/dvd.htm. Details
- Catholic Child Welfare Council, 'CCWC Minutes of Evidence Document 5', in Minutes of Evidence Taken Before the Health Committee on 11 June 1998, Parliament of the United Kingdom, 11 June 1998, http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm199798/cmselect/cmhealth/755/8061108.htm. Details
- Catholic Welfare Australia, 'Submission No. 71 Inquiry into Children in Institutional Care: Submissions', in Inquiry into Children in Institutional Care - Submissions received by the committee as at 17/3/05, Senate Community Affairs Committee, Commonwealth of Australia, July 2003, http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate_Committees?url=clac_ctte/completed_inquiries/2004-07/inst_care/submissions/sublist.htm. Details
- Coldrey, Barry, 'Submission No. 40 Inquiry into Children in Institutional Care: Submissions', in Inquiry into Children in Institutional Care - Submissions received by the committee as at 17/3/05, Senate Community Affairs Committee, Commonwealth of Australia, 19 April 2003, http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate_Committees?url=clac_ctte/completed_inquiries/2004-07/inst_care/submissions/sublist.htm. Details
- Coldrey, Barry, Good British Stock: Child and Youth Migration to Australia, National Archives of Australia, 1999, http://guides.naa.gov.au/good-british-stock/. Details
- Congregation of the Christian Brothers WA and SA, 'Submission No. 65 Inquiry into Children in Institutional Care: Submissions', in Inquiry into Children in Institutional Care - Submissions received by the committee as at 17/3/05, Senate Community Affairs Committee, Commonwealth of Australia, July 2003, http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate_Committees?url=clac_ctte/completed_inquiries/2004-07/inst_care/submissions/sublist.htm. Details
- Department for Community Development, State of Western Australia, 'Submission No. 55 Inquiry into Children in Institutional Care: Submissions', in Inquiry into Children in Institutional Care - Submissions received by the committee as at 17/3/05, Senate Community Affairs Committee, Commonwealth of Australia, July 2003, http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate_Committees?url=clac_ctte/completed_inquiries/2004-07/inst_care/submissions/sublist.htm. Details
- Family Care Society, 'Memorandum by the Family Care Society', in Minutes of Evidence Taken Before the Health Committee on 11 June 1998, Parliament of the United Kingdom, 11 June 1998, http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm199798/cmselect/cmhealth/755/8061115.htm. Details
- Health Committee, House of Commons, Health - Third Report, Parliament of the United Kingdom, 23 July 1998, http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm199798/cmselect/cmhealth/755/75502.htm. Details
- Information Services, Department for Community Development, Signposts: A Guide for Children and Young People in Care in WA from 1920, Government of Western Australia, http://www.signposts.communitydevelopment.wa.gov.au/. Details
- National Directory of Records of Catholic Organisations Caring for Children Separated from Families, A Piece of the Story: A Research Project Undertaken by the Australian Catholic Social Welfare Commission and the Australian Conference of Leaders of Religious Institutes, November 1999, http://catholicsocialservices.org.au/system/files/preface.pdf. Details
- The International Association of Former Child Migrants and Their Families, 'Submission No. 129 Inquiry into Child Migration', in Inquiry into child migration - Submissions which may be accessed electronically, Senate Community Affairs Committee, Commonwealth of Australia, January 2001, http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate_Committees?url=clac_ctte/completed_inquiries/1999-02/child_migrat/submissions/sublist.htm. Details
Gallery
- Title
- Bindoon Boys' Home [Western Australia]
- Type
- Image
- Date
- 1910 - 1962
- Place
- Western Australia
- Creator
- Frank Hurley
- Control
- nla.pic-an23181659
- Source
- National Library of Australia
- Title
- Bindoon Slideshow
- Type
- Video
- Date
- 1940s - 1950s
- Source
- Christian Brothers Institution Albums 1 & 2 (Holy Spirit Collection)
- Title
- Departures from Britain and Malta Slideshow
- Type
- Video
- Date
- 1940s - 1950s
- Source
- Christian Brothers Institution Albums 1 & 2 (Holy Spirit Collection)
- Title
- Making Bricks, Bindoon
- Type
- Image
- Date
- 1940s
- Control
- P23
- Source
- Christian Brothers Institution Albums 1 & 2 (Holy Spirit Collection)
- Title
- Child Migrants at Bindoon
- Type
- Image
- Date
- 1944
- Place
- Western Australia
- Control
- G6
- Source
- Christian Brothers Institution Albums 1 & 2 (Holy Spirit Collection)
- Title
- Film Projector, Bindoon
- Type
- Image
- Date
- 1947
- Place
- Western Australia
- Control
- P8
- Source
- Christian Brothers Institution Albums 1 & 2 (Holy Spirit Collection)
- Title
- Group of Child Migrants at Bindoon
- Type
- Image
- Date
- 1947
- Place
- Western Australia
- Control
- G4
- Source
- Christian Brothers Institution Albums 1 & 2 (Holy Spirit Collection)
- Title
- Group of Boys, Bindoon
- Type
- Image
- Date
- 1947
- Place
- Western Australia
- Control
- BC23A
- Source
- Christian Brothers Institution Albums 1 & 2 (Holy Spirit Collection)
- Title
- Seven Child Migrants from Britain, Bindoon
- Type
- Image
- Date
- 1948
- Place
- Western Australia
- Control
- G22
- Source
- Christian Brothers Institution Albums 1 & 2 (Holy Spirit Collection)
- Title
- British Child Migrants, Bindoon
- Type
- Image
- Date
- 1948
- Place
- Western Australia
- Control
- G18
- Source
- Christian Brothers Institution Albums 1 & 2 (Holy Spirit Collection)
- Title
- Boys and Visitors, Bindoon
- Type
- Image
- Date
- 1948
- Place
- Western Australia
- Control
- BC25
- Source
- Christian Brothers Institution Albums 1 & 2 (Holy Spirit Collection)
- Title
- Deputy Director of the WA Education Department at Bindoon
- Type
- Image
- Date
- 14 November 1948
- Place
- Western Australia
- Control
- P24
- Source
- Christian Brothers Institution Albums 1 & 2 (Holy Spirit Collection)
- Title
- Governor's Visit to Bindoon
- Type
- Image
- Date
- 1950
- Control
- G35
- Source
- Christian Brothers Institution Albums 1 & 2 (Holy Spirit Collection)
- Title
- Bindoon Sisters' Quarters
- Type
- Image
- Date
- July 1952
- Control
- SLWA Accession Number 816B/TB/278
- Source
- Western Australia Government Photographer Collection, State Library of Western Australia
- Title
- Funeral of Brother Keaney, Bindoon
- Type
- Image
- Date
- 27 February 1954
- Place
- Western Australia
- Control
- P26
- Source
- Christian Brothers Institution Albums 1 & 2 (Holy Spirit Collection)
- Title
- CCWC Minutes of Evidence Document 3
- Type
- Document
- Date
- 11 June 1998
- Source
- House of Commons Health Committee, Parliament of the United Kingdom
- Title
- Catholic Agricultural College Bindoon - Building
- Type
- Image
- Date
- September 2011
- Creator
- Bertie, Michael
- Title
- Catholic Agricultural College Bindoon - Sir James Mitchell Plaque
- Type
- Image
- Date
- September 2011
- Creator
- Bertie, Michael
- Title
- Catholic Agricultural College Bindoon - Path
- Type
- Image
- Date
- September 2011
- Creator
- Bertie, Michael
- Title
- Catholic Agricultural College Bindoon - Entrance
- Type
- Image
- Date
- September 2011
- Creator
- Bertie, Michael
- Title
- Catholic Agricultural College Bindoon - Building and grounds
- Type
- Image
- Date
- September 2011
- Creator
- Bertie, Michael
Sources used to compile this entry: Information Services, Department for Community Development, Signposts: A Guide for Children and Young People in Care in WA from 1920, Government of Western Australia, http://www.signposts.communitydevelopment.wa.gov.au/.
Prepared by: Anna Trengove and Leanne Howard
Created: 15 March 2011, Last modified: 19 February 2013
