The Westbrook Youth Detention Centre, run by the government, was situated at Westbrook, 15 kilometres south west of Toowoomba. It was previously named the Westbrook Youth Centre. The institution was renamed the Westbrook Youth Detention Centre in 1993. It closed on 30 June 1994 and was transformed into the Darling Downs Correctional Centre.
In March 1994, a serious incident which resulted in major damage to its facilities occured at Westbrook Youth Detention Centre. An investigation was conducted and a report tabled in Parliament on 12 April 1994. The report contained a number of revisions to the system for juvenile detention. These included the closure of Westbrook - it was closed on 30 June 1994.
1871 - 1881 Reformatory School for Boys - Hulk Proserpine
1881 - 1899 Reformatory School for Boys, Lytton
1899 - 1900 Diamantina Reformatory School for Boys
1900 - 1919 Westbrook Reformatory for Boys
1919 - 1966 Farm Home for Boys, Westbrook
1966 - 1987 Westbrook Training Centre
1987 - 1993 Westbrook Youth Centre
1993 - 1994 Westbrook Youth Detention Centre
1994 - 2012 Darling Downs Correctional Centre
Sources used to compile this entry: 'Westbrook Youth Detention Centre (Agency ID 48)', in Queensland State Archives website, Queensland Government, 2004 - 2013, http://www.archivessearch.qld.gov.au/Search/AgencyDetails.aspx?AgencyId=48; Commission of Inquiry into Abuse of Children in Queensland Institutions, Report of the Commission of Inquiry into Abuse of Children in Queensland Institutions, Queensland. Department of Families, Youth and Community Care, Brisbane, 1999. pp.139-140.; Department of Families, Missing pieces: information to assist former residents of children's institutions to access records, State of Queensland, 2001. pp.21-23..
Prepared by: Lee Butterworth
Created: 17 February 2013, Last modified: 12 March 2015