Vailima Hostel

Vailima Hostel, in Narrogin accommodated Aboriginal girls and boys in a Christian environment while they went to school or work. It was associated with the Roelands Native Mission Farm and a local pastor from Narrogin. House parents lived at Vailima. Child welfare authorities placed children at Vailima. It closed on 25 November 1977.

Vailima Hostel, at 18 Havelock Street, Narrogin, was originally established to accommodate Aboriginal girls and young women in a Christian environment while they went to school or work in Narrogin. In 1976 at least one boy was placed there.

It seems that Vailima had an association with the Roelands Native Mission Farm from at least 1971 until 1975 and a local Narrogin pastor was also involved in Vailima’s management.

Prior to the Vailima Hostel, the Vailima Convalescent Hospital was located at 18 Havelock Street. Possibly, the hostel took its name from that facility.

House parents lived at Vailima Hostel with the children.

When Vailima Hostel closed on 25 November 1977 there were six children under the supervision of the Department, including four who were wards and two others.

National Redress Scheme for people who have experienced institutional child sexual abuse

In 2021, the Western Australian government has agreed to be a funder of last resort for this institution. This means that although the institution is now defunct, it is participating in the National Redress Scheme, and the government has agreed to pay the institution’s share of costs of providing redress to a person (as long as the government is found to be equally responsible for the abuse a person experienced).