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South Australia - Organisation

The Church of England Boys' Home at Walkerville (1903 - 1955)

  • Boy's Home, Walkerville

    Boy's Home, Walkerville, c. 1930, courtesy of State Library of South Australia.
    Details

From
1903
To
1955
Categories
Anglican, Home and Protestant

The Church of England Boys' Home at Walkerville was the new name given to the Children's Home at Walkerville in 1904 after the Home took in boys only. Numbers ranged from 14 up to 30. In 1926 the Home moved to a new building in the same street. The Home was run by an independent management committee that reported to the Diocese of Adelaide. In 1955 it was renamed Kennion House.

Details

The Church of England Boys' Home at Walkerville was the new name given to the Children's Home at Walkerville in 1904 after the Home took in boys only. During its existence the number of boys in the Home ranged from 14 up to 30.

While living in the Home the boys attended St Andrew's Day School and services in St Andrew's church. Most boys remained until the age of 14 when they left to take up employment. The boys initially lived in crowded conditions in what was described as a dark, depressing and run down building.

The poor conditions led to the Home moving to a new building next to the St Andrews church in 1926. This new one storey building had two dormitories, each with 12 beds. Plans were also made to enclose one verandah to provide further sleeping accommodation when required. More renovations were completed after the Second World War.

In 1955 the Church of England Boys' Home was informally renamed Kennion House, after Bishop GW Kennion who had been Bishop of Adelaide at the time the home opened.

Location

1903 - 1926
Location - The Church of England Boys Home at Walkerville was situated at the corner of Smith Street and Church Terrace, Walkerville. Location: Walkerville
1926 - 1955
Address - The Church of England Boys Home at Walkerville was situated at 11 Smith Street, Walkerville. Location: Walkerville

Timeline

 1886 - 1904 The Children's Home at Walkerville
       1903 - 1955 The Church of England Boys' Home at Walkerville
             1955 - 1982 Kennion House

Related Archival Collections

Related Glossary Terms

Related Organisations

Publications

Books

  • Bleby, Elizabeth, Kennion House: A hundred years of children, Anglican Child Care Services, Prospect, 1986. Details
  • Dickey, Brian, Giving a hand: A history of Anglicare SA since 1860, Anglicare SA, Adelaide, 2003. Details

Online Resources

Photos

Walkerville Boys' Home
Title
Walkerville Boys' Home
Type
Image
Date
1925
Source
State Library of South Australia

Details

Boy's Home, Walkerville
Title
Boy's Home, Walkerville
Type
Image
Date
c. 1930
Source
State Library of South Australia

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