Warburton Mission, 579 kilometres north-east of Laverton, was established in 1933 as an outstation of Mount Margaret Mission until it became a separate facility in 1937. Aboriginal children either lived at the mission with families or were sent there for schooling. The head of the government departments responsible for Aboriginal welfare was the guardian of…
Ventnor Avenue Bethel Home, Mount Pleasant, was established in 1970 by Bethel Inc, an independent mission society. Ventnor Avenue could accommodate up to 12 Aboriginal students, male and female, going to high school in Perth. It had closed by 1982. In 1970, the Ventnor Avenue Bethel Home was surveyed as part of a government project…
Vailima Hostel, in Narrogin accommodated Aboriginal girls and boys in a Christian environment while they went to school or work. It was associated with the Roelands Native Mission Farm and a local pastor from Narrogin. House parents lived at Vailima. Child welfare authorities placed children at Vailima. It closed on 25 November 1977. Vailima Hostel,…
Swan Homes, in Middle Swan was created from a merger of two Anglican children’s homes in 1943. The Perth Girls’ Orphanage was evacuated to Swan Boys’ Orphanage at Middle Swan during World War II, and the two children’s homes merged into one institution. During this time, the type of accommodation changed from dormitories to large…
The Seaforth Salvation Army Girls’ Home opened in 1920 in Gosnells (Kelmscott), with girls transferred from the Salvation Army Girls’ Home, Collie. In 1921 there were 30 girls. It closed in 1942, and some girls with an intellectual disability were transferred to Graceville. By 1945, the building became the Seaforth Toddlers’ Home (1945-1949) and it…
Roelands Village was run by the Churches of Christ Federal Aborigines Mission Board Inc from 1975, as cottage homes for school-age Aboriginal children from all around the State. Children and young people at Roelands included those placed privately by parents and those who were state wards. Roelands closed in 1984. Children and young people from…
Roelands Native Mission Farm was established in 1938 and was run by a council of management with Protestant church associations. It began as a farm for Aboriginal families but by 1941 admitted only Aboriginal children. At first, children under 8 were placed at Roelands, but older children were later placed there. There were 85 boys…
Chandler Boys’ Farm was established in 1932 on a property at Seven Hills on the banks of the Collie River at Roelands. It was a privately-run training centre for up to 20 unemployed boys aged over 14 years who were selected for placement. Some had parents who paid fees, but others were subsidised. The farm…
Redhill was established by the Anglican Church (Perth Diocese) in 1903 as a ‘senior reformatory school’ and ‘home for neglected boys’, beginning with six boys sent by a magistrate. In 1921 Redhill became a home for boys and youth up to 18 years with intellectual development disorders (described at the time as ‘mentally defective’). Redhill…
Pukulari Cottage, in the Kalgoorlie suburb of Boulder, was established in 1974 as part of the Kurrawang Mission run by the Christian Brethren. Its purpose was to provide accommodation for up to 12 children from Kurrawang to take part in community life as well as going to school in Kalgoorlie. In 1984 the Kurrawang Mission…
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