Stuart House Boys' Hostel, c. 1964, courtesy of Annual Report of the Children's Welfare and Public Relief Board, 1964.
Details
Stuart House Boys' Hostel was opened in North Adelaide by the government in 1964 as a home for older school boys under the care of the Department. On average the Hostel accommodated 14 boys. Boys attended local schools and took part in other community activities. In 1990 Stuart House Boys' Hostel closed was renamed the North Adelaide Community Unit.
A property at 52 Hill Street, North Adelaide, was purchased by the Children's Welfare and Public Relief Department in 1963. It was named Stuart House Boys' Hostel and operated as a home for older school boys under the care of the Department. It was named after explorer John McDouall Stuart who departed on an expedition from nearby the site in 1861. The first boys took up residence at the Hostel on 3 February 1964. The maximum number of boys accommodated in the first years was 23, with the average being 14.
Boys attended local primary or high school and with permission took part in sport and other activities in the community. Boys' progress at school was monitored and they were assisted with homework. Facilities for hobbies and other recreational activities were provided at the home. Church attendance was encouraged and arranged by home staff. The boys received pocket money from the Department each week. The first Superintendent and Matron were Mr and Mrs H W Dyson.
In 1990 Stuart House Boys' Hostel was renamed the North Adelaide Community Unit.
Stuart House Boys' Hostel was one of the institutions that came under scrutiny for allegations of abuse during the Children in State Care Inquiry 2004-2008. The majority of the reported incidents at Stuart House Boys' Hostel were from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.
1964 - 1990 Stuart House Boys' Hostel
1990 - 1997 North Adelaide Community Unit
1997 - Regency Park Community Unit
Sources used to compile this entry: George, Karen, Finding your own way, Nunkuwarrin Yunti of South Australia Inc., 2005, http://nunku.org.au/resources/; Mullighan, the Hon E.P., Children in State Care Commission of Inquiry: Allegations of sexual abuse and death from criminal conduct, presented to the South Australian Parliament by the Hon. E.P. Mullighan QC, Commisioner, Children in State Care Commission of Enquiry, Adelaide, South Australia, 2008, 564 pp, https://www.childprotection.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/107201/children-in-state-care-commission-of-inquiry-introducation.pdf.
Prepared by: Karen George and Gary George
Created: 11 February 2011, Last modified: 6 May 2014
Last updated: 7 August 2023
Cite this: https://www.findandconnect.gov.au/ref/sa/biogs/SE00091b.htm
First published by the Find & Connect Web Resource Project for the Commonwealth of Australia, 2011
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