The Kardinia Children’s Home in Belmont (Geelong) was established in 1947 and was run by the Salvation Army. Originally it opened as a toddler’s home and accommodated children aged between two and five with children sent to Salvation Army children’s homes in Melbourne upon reaching school age. Later on it provided for children of all ages and children often attended the local Belmont Primary School. From 1965 cottage homes were opened on the Kardinia grounds to enable siblings to stay together and the institution was also known as Kardinia Child Care and Family Services Centre. All residential care of children ended at Kardinia on 31 January 1986.
In 1983, the residential units declared as approved children’s homes at Kardinia Child Care and Family Services Centre were Paringa Cottage, Attunga Unit, Wallara Cottage, Birralee Unit and Kyewong Cottage.
In around 2003 when the property was being “cleaned out”, the personal files of children who had been at the Home were destroyed. It appears that the importance of these files and the meaning they might hold for former residents was not properly understood when this very regrettable incident occurred. There is however historical material about Kardinia at the Salvation Army Archives and Museum.
From
1947
To
31 January 1986
Alternative Names
Kardinia Child Care and Family Services Centre
Kardinia Salvation Army Children's Home
1947 - 1986
The Kardinia Children's Home was located in 1 Riverview Terrace, Belmont (Geelong), Victoria (Building Still standing)
