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South Australia - Organisation

St Joseph's Orphanage Largs Bay (1907? - 1960s)

  • Largs Bay Orphanage

    Largs Bay Orphanage, 1906? - 1930?, courtesy of Catholic Archdiocese of Adelaide Archives.
    Details

From
1907?
To
1960s
Categories
Catholic, Children's Home, Home and Orphanage
Alternative Names
  • Junior Boys Home of the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart Incorporated (Also known as)
  • Largs Bay Orphanage (Also known as)
  • St Joseph's Junior Boy's Home (Also known as)

St Joseph's Orphanage at Largs Bay, formerly St Joseph's Sanatorium, opened in 1907. Run by the Sisters of St Joseph it took in infants and school age children. From 1941 it accommodated only boys aged 3 to 12. Girls were sent to St Vincent de Paul Orphanage, Goodwood and older boys to St John's Boystown, Brooklyn Park. During the 1960s the Home became known as St Joseph's Junior Boys Home.

Details

The St Joseph's Orphanage Largs Bay, formerly known as St Joseph's Sanatorium, was the second orphanage to be managed by the Sisters of St Joseph in South Australia. The original St Joseph's Sanatorium moved from Kalgoorlie Street in Largs Bay to larger premises on the Esplanade near the Largs Bay jetty in 1906. Although the Sanatorium continued for a time to accommodate women in the new premises, the Sisters began to concentrate on its role as an orphanage for boys and girls from infancy to school leaving age. In 1907 the then Archbishop of Adelaide, Archbishop O'Reily, established the Home as St Joseph's Orphanage.

Along with 'homeless children and orphans' St Joseph's Orphanage also took in children of more than 3 years of age from the St Joseph's Refuge whose mothers chose to stay at the Refuge.

By 1908 the large building was becoming overcrowded so a cottage on an adjoining lot was purchased. In 1910 62 children were being cared for in the orphanage and by 1912 the Sisters were running out of room for the numbers of children being referred to them. Over the next few years additions were made to the building, including a schoolroom in 1912 and a kitchen and laundry in 1917.

In 1941, after the arrival of Archbishop Matthew Beovich in Adelaide, the focus of the Orphanage changed. The Archbishop arranged for all the older boys from the orphanages at Goodwood and Largs Bay to be placed at Brooklyn Park under the care of the Brothers of St John the Baptist and later the Salesians of Don Bosco. All girls were moved to the St Vincent de Paul orphanage and St Joseph's took charge of boys aged between three and twelve.

During the 1960s the home became known as St Joseph's Junior Boys Home.

Location

1907? - 1960s
Address - St Joseph's Orphanage was situated at 208 The Esplanade, Largs Bay. Location: Largs Bay

Timeline

 1903 - 1907? St Joseph's Sanatorium, Largs Bay
       1907? - 1960s St Joseph's Orphanage Largs Bay
             1960s - 1969 St Joseph's Junior Boys' Home
                   1969 - 1980 St Joseph's Children's Home

Run By

Related Archival Series

Related Glossary Terms

Related Organisations

  • St John the Baptist Home for Boys (1898 - 1941)

    In 1941 St John the Baptist Home for Boys took boys aged 12 years of age or older, while younger boys were sent to the St Joseph's Orphanage at Largs Bay or to the St Vincent de Paul Orphanage at Goodwood.

  • St John's Boys Town (1941 - 1954)

    From 1941 older boys from St Joseph's Orphanage Largs Bay were placed at St John's Boys Town, Brooklyn Park.

  • St Joseph's Refuge (1868 - c. 2001)

    Children over the age of three years who had been staying with mothers accommodated at St Joseph's Refuge at Fullarton were placed in the St Joseph's Orphanage at Largs Bay.

    Date: 1903? - 1969?

  • St Vincent de Paul Orphanage (1866 - 1975)

    From 1941 all girls at St Joseph's Orphanage, Largs Bay, were sent to St Vincent de Paul Orphanage at Goodwood.

    Date: 1941 - 1969

Publications

Books

  • Foale, Marie Therese, Think of the Ravens: The Sisters of St Joseph in Social Welfare, Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart Inc, Kent Town, 2001. Details

Online Resources

Photos

Largs Bay Orphanage
Title
Largs Bay Orphanage
Type
Image
Date
1906? - 1930?
Source
Catholic Archdiocese of Adelaide Archives

Details

Sources used to compile this entry: George, Karen, Finding your own way, Nunkuwarrin Yunti of South Australia Inc., 2005, http://nunku.org.au/resources/.

Prepared by: Karen George and Gary George