Kartanup

Kartanup, in Katanning, was established in 1970 as a government-run hostel for boys of working age who were looking for work in the Katanning district. Authorities believed these boys would benefit from support as they learnt to live independently. It is possible that many of the boys were or had been wards of the State. By 1984, the hostel had closed and the building was used for the government’s Westrek (youth employment) project.

In 1970 the Department of Native Welfare established Kartanup as an Aboriginal education and employment hostel for working-age boys in the town of Katanning, in an old property in Andrews Street.

In government records, various spellings of Kartanup appear, including Kartenup and Cardinup.

In 1972, Kartanup moved to larger premises which had originally been built in 1929-30 as a Catholic boarding school run by the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions. In 1958-59 the building was converted to a Convent and was the site of the St Rita’s Convent School. Kartanup came under the control of the Department for Community Welfare in that year.

Kartanup was home to young males from Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal backgrounds, from country and metropolitan areas. The emphasis of the hostel was on establishing work and independent living skills. It is likely that many of the boys placed at the hostel were or had been wards of the State, and some may have been referred through the juvenile justice system.

By August 1984, Kartanup’s hostel program closed. In 1985, the Kartanup facility was leased to the State Government to use for its Westrek (youth employment) project. In 1987, Kartanup became an annexe of St Andrew’s Hostel for children attending school in Katanning.

The building continues to be used in Katanning in 2014, but no longer offers out of home care. It was known as ‘Reidy House’.