The Victoria Hospital for Infectious Diseases began as ‘little more than a tent outpost’ in response to an outbreak of smallpox in 1893. It was located in the Perth suburb of Subiaco (later known as Shenton Park). Children with infectious diseases were regularly admitted during the early life of the hospital. In 1938, ‘after many…
A Home for Girls was run by the Orphanage Committee of the Anglican Diocese of Perth from 1883. Funds were raised and a small cottage was built near the Swan Boys’ Home. The Home was for girls of all ages whose backgrounds disqualified them for admission to the Perth Girls’ Orphanage in the eyes of…
‘The Rocks’ was a hostel run by the Country Women’s Association (CWA) for girls attending Albany High School. It opened in September 1950 with 30 girls from the region. In 1969 control of the CWA Hostels passed to the government.
The Seaforth Salvation Army Boys’ Reformatory was run by the Salvation Army on a large site in Gosnells from 1920 until it closed in 1955. The reformatory was co-located with the Seaforth Boys’ Home (1920-1955), the Seaforth Salvation Army Girls’ Home (1920-1942) and the Seaforth Todders’ Home (1945-1949). Since 1955, the Seaforth site has been…
The Children’s Protection Society (the Society) was established in Perth in 1906 as the extent of ‘child cruelty and neglect’ became more visible to the public. At a time when neglected children were seen as criminals, the Society showed that children were victims. It was a volunteer service aimed mainly at ensuring that illegitimate children…
The Metropolitan Charities Appeal Association was formed on 3 January 1918 at the instigation of the Ugly Men’s Association to avoid ‘the necessity for a score or more appeals for charities during the year’. It possibly was disbanded after July 1918.
St Margaret’s Hostel for ‘unmarried mothers and their babies’ was run by the Sisters of Mercy from 1918 as an extension of St Vincent’s Foundling Home in Subiaco. It is probable that babies from St Margaret’s were adopted, fostered or lived at St Vincent’s Foundling Home until they were old enough to be moved to…
St Joseph’s Catholic Orphanage for Girls was established in Perth by the Sisters of Mercy in 1868, for girls from the Poor House. Children who were destitute were accommodated, along with orphans. In 1901, the Home moved to Subiaco and became the St Joseph’s Girls’ Orphanage. An orphanage for Catholic girls was first established in…
Princess Margaret Hospital for Children (PMH) was established in 1909 in Subiaco as the Perth Children’s Hospital. It was common for children who were in out of home ‘care’ to be sent there for medical treatment, and children with intellectual disabilities or serious medical conditions sometimes lived at the hospital. On 10 June 2018 the…
The Incest Survivors Association Inc (ISA) was formally established in 1984 but it grew from a project in 1978 which sought information from the public about the extent of sexual assaults against women. In a 24-hour ‘phone-in’ more than half the callers spoke about being sexually assaulted by someone within their family. Children are often…
Dec 18, 2024
Nov 15, 2024
