Archives



Marillac House

Marillac House in Brighton East was run by the Daughters of Charity from 1943. It included a school, and accommodated mostly girls aged 10 to 16, and some boys in its early years, with intellectual disabilities, or learning and social problems. In 2009, Marillac House continues to provide programs and services to people with a…

St John of God Training Centre

The St John of God Training Centre was established by the St John of God Brothers in 1953. It housed around 100 Catholic boys aged 7 to 16 with mild intellectual disabilities, including State wards unable to live with their parents. The St John of God Training Centre occupied the former site of the Methodist…

Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind

The Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind, which was known as The Victorian Asylum and School for the Blind until 1891, opened in Melbourne in 1866. Its aim was to provide accommodation, school and occupational training for up to 120 blind and vision impaired children and adults. It was initially located in a rented house…

Handicapped Persons’ Association Group Home

The Handicapped Persons’ Association Group Home was opened in Darwin by the Handicapped Persons Association (HPA) of the Northern Territory in 1985. It accommodated up to seven people. In 1991 the HPA established the Darwin Accommodation Service. It is possible that the Handicapped Persons Association Group Home closed at this time.

Mentally Retarded Person’s Association Hostel

The Mentally Retarded Person’s Association Hostel opened in Darwin in 1968. Run by the Mentally Retarded Person’s Association it provided accommodation for people with intellectual disabilities. The Association also ran a pre-school and provided supported employment and training. The Mentally Retarded Persons Association Hostel closed in 1974.

Carpentaria Disability Services

Carpentaria Disabilty Services, also known as Carpentaria Community Services, was the new name given to the Harry Giese Centre around 1996. It provided 24 hour supported living services and respite care for people with disabilities including children. It was still operating in 2018.

The Harry Giese Centre

The Harry Giese Centre in Darwin opened in 1977. It was run by the Northern Territory Spastics Association (Inc), formerly the Darwin and Districts Spastics Paralysis Association, and provided assessment, treatment and residential care for people with disabilities including children. By 1985 it was providing services to one third of the young children with disabilities…

Bunyip House

Bunyip House opened in Darwin in 1981. Run by Somerville Homes and its successor Somerville Community Services, it provided residential care and treatment for children with severe disabilities. It accommodated up to 7 children. The closing date for Bunyip House is not yet known. Records suggest it may have closed in the mid-1980s. Bunyip House…

The Bindi Centre

The Bindi Centre was opened in Alice Springs in 1976 as an activity centre for young people with intellectual disabilities from throughout the Northern Territory. In the 1980s the Bindi Centre extended its services to provide supported accommodation in two residential units. The Bindi Centre then became part of a larger program known as Central…

The Alice Springs Spastic Centre Family Group Home

The Alice Springs Spastic Centre Family Group Home in Mills Street Alice Springs was opened by the Alice Springs Spastic Council in 1982. It accommodated 5 children with disabilities who lived with house parents. The Alice Springs Spastic Centre Family Group Home was closed after a fire. The date of this closure has not yet…