Archives



Devonfield Hostel

Devonfield Hostel, run by the Retarded Children’s Welfare Association, opened in Devonport in 1965. It was a combined Hostel and school for children with intellectual disabilities. In 2013, Devonfield continues to provide training but is no longer residential. The Social Welfare Department placed wards of state with intellectual disabilities at Devonfield. Margaret Reynolds, the former…

New Town Infirmary

The New Town Infirmary replaced the New Town Charitable Institution in 1912. Its residents included children detained by the government for various reasons. In 1934, the New Town Infirmary became the New Town Rest Home. The main purpose of the New Town Infirmary was to house people who were aged and infirm. However, as the…

West Winds Boys’ Home

West Winds Boys’ Home, run by the government, opened in Woodbridge in 1967. It accommodated boys from the age of five. The Home closed in 1983. In 1963, the Social Welfare Department bought a property of 44 acres with a timber house on it at Woodbridge, south of Hobart, which they intended to develop as…

Auricht House

Auricht House in Elizabeth North was opened in 2005 as a respite centre for children with intellectual disabilities. Run by Centacare, it accommodated up to ten children. The House was named after mountain climber, Mark Auricht who attempted to climb Mt Everest in 2001 to raise funds for a new respite service. Auricht died during…

Miroma Respite Care

Miroma Respite Care was established by the Catholic Church in 1985 in Mt Gambier. It provided respite care for young people up to the age of 20 who had intellectual or multiple disabilities. In 2014 Miroma provided day, overnight and emergency care for children through to adults with intellectual or multiple disabilities.

Ru Rua Nursing Home

Ru Rua Nursing Home opened in North Adelaide in 1978. It provided accommodation for children and young adults with severe and multiple disabilities. In 1981, Estcourt House at Grange was renovated, and Ru Rua Nursing Home moved to these upgraded premesis. In 1982, it became part of the newly created Intellectual Disability Services Council. Ru…

Ashford House

Ashford House was established by the Crippled Children’s Association of South Australia (CCA) at Ashford in 1952. It replaced the Spastic Centre at Kermode Street, North Adelaide, and provided day schooling and respite care for children with Cerebral Palsy. Ashford House closed in 1976, at the same time as the Somerton Crippled Children’s Home and…

Spastic Centre, Kermode Street, North Adelaide

The Spastic Centre at Kermode Street, North Adelaide, was established in late 1949 by the Crippled Children’s Association of South Australia (CCA). It provided a day school and training centre for children suffering from Cerebral Palsy. In 1951 the Spastic Centre closed and the children were moved to the new centre, Ashford House. The Spastic…

Woodville Spastic Centre

The Woodville Spastic Centre was the new name given to the Woodville Spastic Children’s Home around 1960. Run by the South Australian Spastic Paralysis Welfare Association it provided day training and respite accommodation for children with disabilities. Services began to be decentralised from the Woodville site in the 1980s. The residential Nursing Home at the…

Woodville Spastic Children’s Home

The Woodville Spastic Children’s Home was established by the South Australian Spastic Paralysis Welfare Association (SASPWA) at Woodville in 1952 to provide care and respite accommodation for children with disabilities. It also provided accommodation for children from country areas attending the school at Ashford House. In 1953 it had accommodation for 4. This had doubled…