Some people may find content on this website distressing. Read more
South Australia - Organisation

Seaforth Home (1946 - 1975)

  • Seaforth Home, Entrance

    Seaforth Home, Entrance, 1954, courtesy of State Records of South Australia.
    Details

From
1946
To
1975
Categories
Disability Institution, Government-run and Home
Alternative Names
  • Sea Forth Home (Also known as)

Seaforth Home was the new name given to Seaforth Convalescent Home at Somerton in 1946. Run by the government, Seaforth accommodated up to 100 children including, boys and girls, aged between 0 and 6, and girls up to the age of 18. Most were deemed to be destitute or neglected. The Home also took in some children with disabilities. Seaforth closed as a large congregate care institution in 1975 and was replaced by five cottages - Tintoo, Morada, Kandarik, Reception and Slade Cottages.

Details

In 1946 Seaforth Convalescent Home at Tarlton Street, Somerton Park was renamed Seaforth Home. The departmental Annual Report for 1950 described Seaforth Home as an institution for male and female infants and toddlers up to six years of age, and girls up to the age of eighteen.

The majority of children placed at Seaforth were those charged as 'destitute' or 'neglected', or 'under unfit guardianship'. Some girls were committed to Seaforth because of minor behavioural problems or truancy. No child could be committed to the home if he/she had committed an offence.

Children from different age groups were accommodated in separate dormitories and the home provided a large nursery for babies. In 1950 the kindergarten area of the Home was reported to be overcrowded. As a partial solution to this, the Children's Welfare and Public Relief Board moved boys under the age of six who were ready for primary school, to the Glandore Industrial School. Despite this, during the 1960s the average number of children at the Home was close to 100 with a staff to children ratio of 1 to 12. By 1968 the home was also taking in children with intellectual and/or physical disabilities and babies who required specialist care.

In October 1969 the Seaforth Auxiliary was formed. This group comprised a number of women who made regular visits to the home to provide attention and care for younger children up to the age of six.

In 1970 Seaforth was still providing residential care for 90 children, but numbers were steadily declining.
By 1973 the Home only accommodated 30 children, most of whom had intellectual and/or physical disabilities. At that time Seaforth Home was already moving away from using large dormitories. The Home was instead divided into four units: one for children with disabilities, one specifically for babies and toddlers and two further 'family-oriented' units for other children. Each provided temporary short-term accommodation for children while long-term placements were organised. The children were under the supervision of both male and female staff members.

Seaforth Home closed in 1975 and that year was replaced by five independent cottage Homes on the same site. Two cottages took the name of cottages that had been operating a Glandore - Reception and Slade Cottages. The other three were named Tintoo, Morada and Kandarik.

Seaforth Home came under scrutiny during the 2004-2008 Children in State Care Commission of Inquiry. A number of women who had lived in the Home came forward to give evidence of abuse.

Location

1946 - 1975
Location - Seaforth Home was situated at Tarlton Street, Somerton Park. Location: Somerton Park

Timeline

 1921 - 1946 Seaforth Convalescent Home
       1946 - 1975 Seaforth Home
             1975 - 1979 Morada Cottage, Somerton Park
             1975 - 1979 Tintoo Cottage, Somerton Park
             1975 - 1988 Kandarik Cottage, Somerton Park

Related Glossary Terms

Related Organisations

Publications

Online Resources

Photos

Seaforth Home, Playroom
Title
Seaforth Home, Playroom
Type
Image
Date
1945? - 1970?
Source
State Records of South Australia

Details

Seaforth Home, Toddlers Block
Title
Seaforth Home, Toddlers Block
Type
Image
Date
1946
Source
State Records of South Australia

Details

Seaforth Home, Entrance
Title
Seaforth Home, Entrance
Type
Image
Date
1946
Source
State Records of South Australia

Details

Seaforth Home, New Girls' Dormitory
Title
Seaforth Home, New Girls' Dormitory
Type
Image
Date
1952
Source
State Records of South Australia

Details

Seaforth Home, Toddlers playroom
Title
Seaforth Home, Toddlers playroom
Type
Image
Date
1954?
Source
State Records of South Australia

Details

Seaforth Home, Grounds
Title
Seaforth Home, Grounds
Type
Image
Date
1954
Source
State Records of South Australia

Details

Seaforth Home, Interior nursery
Title
Seaforth Home, Interior nursery
Type
Image
Date
1954?
Source
State Records of South Australia

Details

Seaforth Home, Entrance
Title
Seaforth Home, Entrance
Type
Image
Date
1954
Source
State Records of South Australia

Details

Seaforth Home, Dormitories
Title
Seaforth Home, Dormitories
Type
Image
Date
1954?
Source
State Records of South Australia

Details

Seaforth Home, Somerton Park, Laundry bins
Title
Seaforth Home, Somerton Park, Laundry bins
Type
Image
Date
1980s
Source
Priscilla Taylor

Details

Seaforth Home, Somerton Park, Blue Dormitory
Title
Seaforth Home, Somerton Park, Blue Dormitory
Type
Image
Date
1980s
Source
Priscilla Taylor

Details

Seaforth Home, Somerton Park, Main Building
Title
Seaforth Home, Somerton Park, Main Building
Type
Image
Date
1980s
Source
Priscilla Taylor

Details

Seaforth Home Patch Theatre
Title
Seaforth Home Patch Theatre
Type
Image
Date
1994
Source
Priscilla Taylor

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/; 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