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Queensland - Organisation

Westbrook Youth Detention Centre (1993 - 1994)

From
1993
To
30 June 1994
Categories
Farm School, Government-run, Home and Youth Training Centre

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.

Details

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.

Location

c. 1993 - 30 June 1994
Location - The Westbrook Youth Detention Centre was situated at Althaus Road, Westbrook. Location: Westbrook

Timeline

 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

Related Archival Items

Related Archival Series

Related Events

Related Organisations

Publications

Books

  • Department of Families, Missing pieces: information to assist former residents of children's institutions to access records, State of Queensland, 2001. pp.21-23. Details
  • Ryan, Majella and Smith, Don: Queensland. Dept. of Family Services and Aboriginal and Islander Affairs. Office of the Director-General, Investigation of the circumstances surrounding incidents at Westbrook Youth Detention Centre, Friday, 18 March to Sunday, 20 March 1994 and Friday, 25 March 1994, Queensland Government, Brisbane, 1994, 46 pp. Details

Newspaper Articles

  • 'Warders want tougher policy', Chronicle, 23 March 1994. Details
  • 'Westbrook/ History of the centre', Chronicle, 6 July 1994, p. 11. Details
  • 'Boys say don't close Westbrook/All 31 sign letter to Family Services Minister', Chronicle, 20 April 1994, p. 1. Details
  • 'Westbrook staff hurt, stunned by closure', Chronicle, 14 April 1994. Details
  • 'Prisoners to work modern new dairy', Chronicle, 1 November 1996, p. 5. Details
  • 'Inquiry into mass breakout: Home finally closed in 1994', Toowoomba's Mail, 9 March 2006, p. 7. Details

Reports

  • 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. Details

Online Resources

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