Archives



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…

Gerard Mission

Gerard Mission was established in 1945 near Loxton by the United Aborigines Mission (UAM) to replace the Swan Reach Mission. A school and a children’s dormitory was established and 15 children from Swan Reach and Ooldea were initially accommodated. From the mid 1950s children attended the local Winkie School. The state government took control of…

Kali Boys’ Hostel

Kali Boys’ Hostel was opened by the United Aborigines Mission at Westbourne Park in 1971. Run by the UAM under the control of the Department, it operated as accommodation for Aboriginal boys attending secondary school. It initially accommodated four boys. In 1972 Kali Boys Hostel became a government run small group home known as Kali…

Colebrook Home

Colebrook Home was opened in Quorn in 1927 by the United Aborigines Mission as an institution for Aboriginal children. The Matron and 12 children from Oodnadatta Children’s Home were the first residents. In 1944 the Home moved to Eden Hills where it accommodated up to 50 children. In 1961 children from Gerard Mission Children’s Dormitory…

Barton Vale Girls’ Home

Barton Vale Girls’ Home was established at Harewood Avenue, Enfield by the Salvation Army in 1922. It took over the role of the government-run Redruth Girls’ Reformatory which closed in the same year. As a reformatory it accommodated girls who were convicted for offences or for other reasons were deemed to be in need of…

The Lutheran Church of Australia

The Lutheran Church is a branch of the Protestant church, and was founded in Germany in the 16th Century by Reformationist Martin Luther. The Lutheran Church was first established in Australia by German Lutherans arriving in South Australia in 1838. Separate Lutheran churches were founded in Victoria from the 1840s, and Queensland from the 1850s….

Vaughan House

Vaughan House was opened at Enfield in 1947 as a Government reformatory for girls who were state wards. It was formerly the Salvation Army run Barton Vale Girls’ Home. Initially most girls were Protestant as Catholic girls were sent to the Convent of the Good Shepherd, The Pines. In 1960, 40-50 girls were in residence….