Orana, the Peace Memorial Homes for Children, were established in 1953 in Burwood. They were previously the Methodist Homes for Children in Cheltenham. Orana Homes offered residential-style accommodation in units with ‘cottage parents’. In 1988 it became Orana Family Services. Orana, the Peace Memorial Homes for Children, were established in 1953 in Burwood. Formerly, dormitory-style…
St Catherine’s Children’s Home was the new name given in 1960 to St Catherine’s Orphanage. It operated at Highton until its closure in 1975, when the Sisters of Mercy established the Mercy Family Care Centre. From the 1960s, like many other institutions in Victoria, St Catherine’s Children’s Home was changing its approach to accommodating children,…
St Catherine’s Orphanage was the new name given in 1912 to what was formerly Our Lady’s Orphanage. It accommodated girls aged between 3 and 14. In 1928, the Orphanage relocated from Newtown to Highton. In 1960, it became the St Catherine’s Children’s Home. Barnard and Twigg suggest that the Sisters of Mercy changed the orphanage’s…
Orana Family Services was established in Coolaroo (also referred to as Meadow Heights) in 1988. It was formerly based in Burwood and was known as Orana, the Peace Memorial Homes for Children. From 1988, services were transferred to Coolaroo. In 1990, two family group homes and two specialist houses moved from Burwood to Coolaroo. Orana…
The Sutherland Homes for Neglected and Destitute Children was founded by Selina Sutherland in 1908. It accommodated boys and girls, aged between 6 and 14. Sutherland Homes was originally located in La Trobe Street, Melbourne. Later, it had a ‘receiving home’ in Drummond Street, Carlton and a ‘country home’ in Diamond Creek. From the 1950s…
The Bimberi Youth Justice Centre, Mitchell, was established in 2008 to replace the Quamby Youth Detention Centre as the ACT’s youth custodial facility. It accommodates youth aged 10 to 18 years. Bimberi is the first youth custodial facility to be designed, built and operated under human rights legislation.
Outreach House was established in 1976 and was run by the Richmond Fellowship of the ACT Inc. It provided housing for young people aged 11 to 18 years who were unable to live at home. The program promoted educational opportunities and participation in social and recreational activities. The House closed around 2015.
Marlow Cottage, Kaleen, was established in 1986 under the Children’s Services Act 1986 and closed around 2016. It was originally known as Kaleen Youth Shelter and was run by the Welfare Branch, and later the Housing and Community Services Bureau of the ACT Government. It was established to provide accommodation for 12- to 17-year-olds who…
The Quamby Youth Detention Centre in Symonston opened in 1962. It was a government-run facility, housing youth on short term remand, and (in the absence of any other facility) some children unable to live at home. Most ACT children who were sent to institutions in New South Wales initially spent some time in Quamby. In…
Marymead Child and Family Centre was established in 1967 in Narrabundah. It was run by the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, until the Catholic Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn took over responsibility in 1986. Marymead Child and Family Centre initially provided temporary residential care for children – placed by parents or by welfare officials. When it…
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