Barnardos House, Downer, opened in Canberra in 1964. It housed 10 to 15 boys and girls of all ages at a time, both temporarily and permanently, and sought to place children in foster homes where possible. In 1982, Barnardos House became the Barnardos Children's Family Centre.
Barnardos House was the first Home to offer permanent residence for children in the ACT. The first four residents were British child migrants and they took up residence on 14 February 1964. However, the home was mainly for local children.
The shelter was run first by the ACT Regional Officer of the Dr Barnardo's Homes organisation.
Barnardos House was originally going to be called Elizabeth House after the Queen Mother who was planned to officially open the Home. The Queen Mother was unable to attend due to illness and it appears the Home was renamed in early 1964.
1964 - 1982 Barnardos House
c. 1983 - Barnardos Children's Family Centre
Sources used to compile this entry: 'Barnardo Home Price Cut', The Canberra Times (ACT), 7 February 1964, p. 9, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article131742819; Department of the Interior, Welfare Section, Annual Report 1966-1967, Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra, 1968; Department of the Interior, Welfare Section, Annual Report 1969-1970, Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra, 1971.
Prepared by: Lydia Connell
Created: 22 October 2012, Last modified: 6 November 2018