The Presbyterian Church was established in the Crown Colony of Western Australia in 1879. In 1901, it joined with other States to form the Presbyterian Church of Australia and in 1977 became part of the Uniting Church in Australia. The Presbyterian Church in WA was involved with missions, Children’s Homes and Homes for children and…
Port Hedland Group Home was established in 1977. It was government-run and provided emergency and short term accommodation for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children in Port Hedland. By 1979, another group home had been opened in South Hedland, giving child welfare authorities a choice of placements. The Port Hedland Group Home probably closed around 1983.
The Parkerville Children’s Home continued the Waifs’ Home, Parkerville from 1909. It was run by the Community of the Sisters of the Church from 1909 to 1925 and from 1925 to 2005 by the Parkerville Children’s Home Incorporated. Over time, Parkerville developed a range of youth care and family services, including non-residential programs. In 2005…
Nulungu, in Broome, was established in 1971 by the Christian Brothers as a school. Over the years, Nulungu also accommodated Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children who were wards of the State when they came to Broome for medical treatment. These children may have records held by child welfare authorities. In 1994, Nulungu became St Mary’s College…
The Northam Group Home was established in 1980, providing government-run emergency and short-term accommodation for up to eight Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children from babies to young teenagers, with some long-term admissions. In 2002, the Northam Group Home closed due to staff shortages, but it was open in 2004, possibly closing permanently in 2005. Government reports…
Norseman Mission was a ‘children’s mission’ established in 1935 by members of the Churches of Christ and then run from 1942 by the Churches of Christ Federal Aborigines Mission Board Inc. Its purpose was to provide accommodation, education and vocational training for children and young people aged 2-15 years. The number of children at the…
The Ngangganawili Group Home, in Wiluna, was a government-run group home established to provide emergency accommodation for children. It is known to have been operating in 1982. The Department for Community Welfare said in its annual report in 1982 (Signposts 2004, p.374) that one of the factors that led to the establishment of the Ngangganawili…
The Ngal-a Mothercraft Home and Training Centre Inc (Ngala) was the new name given in 1956 to The Alexandra Home for Mothers and Babies (Inc) and Mothercraft Training School, in Highgate. In 1959 Ngala moved to Kensington. Ngala had three functions: a maternity home for mothers and babies; from 1959, the ‘reception centre’ for all…
Mowanjum was established near Derby in 1956 when the Presbyterian church moved residents of Wotjulum mission to a new site in Yampi Sound near Derby. Until 1963, children at Mowanjum were under the guardianship of the Commissioner of Native Welfare. In 1971 it housed 65 school-age children. Mowanjum became a self-governing community in 1972, and…
Mount Margaret Mission, south of Laverton, was established in 1921 by R. Schenk, with assistance from the Australian Aborigines Mission. Around 1928, the Schenks established a dormitory system at the Mission, where Aboriginal children were housed separately from their parents. It was called the Graham Homes. By 1942 several hundred Aboriginal families, including children, lived…
Dec 18, 2024
Nov 15, 2024
