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Mareeba Babies’ Hospital

The Mareeba Babies’ Hospital was established in Woodville in 1917. It took over the role of the St Peters Babies’ Hospital caring for sick infants under the age of two. Originally under the control of the Inspector General of Hospitals, with the Babies Hospital Association acting in an advisory role, it came under the control…

Kurbingai Hostel

Kurbingai Hostel was set up in Semaphore in 1958 by Mr WJL Sutton, a former superintendent of St Francis House. It operated as a private hostel for Aboriginal boys up to the age of 16 attending local schools. Most boys were placed at the Hostel by the Aborigines Protection Board. After numerous complaints the Aborigines…

Junior Red Cross Home, Henley Beach

The Junior Red Cross Home opened at Henley Beach in 1933 as a convalescent and holiday Home for children undergoing treatment at the Adelaide Children’s Hospital. Run by the Red Cross, it accommodated up to 20 children. In 1946 a second building was added to the Home and the combined premises became known as the…

Adelaide Children’s Hospital

The Adelaide Children’s Hospital opened in 1879 in North Adelaide. It was run by a board of management and funded by donations, fund raising and government subsidies. The Adelaide Children’s Hospital ran the Queen Victoria Convalescent Home for Children at Mount Lofty and Mareeba Babies Hospital. It also purchased and ran Estcourt House at Tennyson….

Estcourt House

Estcourt House opened at Grange in 1894 as a Home for the elderly and children with disabilities. It was run by the James Brown Memorial Trust. From 1931 it became a convalescent home for children only. It was taken over by the Adelaide Children’s Hospital in 1955. It closed in 1978, when it became part…

Drapers’ Hall

Drapers’ Hall was established in 1962 by the Fairbridge Society Incorporated. From 1962 to 1964 it was located in a house in East Terrace, Adelaide, and then around 1965 moved to Crafers. It accommodated children from Britain between the ages of 6 to 16 who had been brought to Australia as part of the Fairbridge…

Tanderra Girls’ Home

Tanderra Girls’ Home was opened by the South Australian Council of the United Aborigines Mission at Parkside in 1952. It was established as accommodation for older Aboriginal girls who had left Colebrook Home. It accommodated up to ten girls. In later years Tanderra moved to Torrensville. The Home closed in 1973. Tanderra Girls Home was…

Aboriginal Women’s Home, North Adelaide

The Aboriginal Women’s Home opened at North Adelaide in 1926 as a boarding house for Aboriginal women and children. The Adelaide City Mission ran the Home with financial assistance from the government. The Home accommodated up to 22 women and children, many from country areas who were in Adelaide for medical treatment. The Home closed…

Ooldea Mission

The Ooldea Mission was established by the United Aborigines Mission (UAM) in 1933 at Ooldea Soak. A government Aboriginal reserve was established in 1938 that encompassed the Mission. A children’s dormitory was established at the Mission which accommodated up to 60 Aboriginal children. A small number of children were moved to Gerard Mission in 1945….

Oodnadatta Children’s Home

Oodnadatta Children’s Home was established by the United Aborigines Mission at Oodnadatta in 1924 as a Home for Aboriginal Children. It closed in 1927 and the Matron and 12 children were sent to Quorn to start Colebrook Home. In 1947 the Oodnadatta Children’s Home was reopened by the South Australian branch of the UAM. It…