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Western Australia - Organisation

Werribee Farm School (1928 - 1962)

  • The Barefoot Boys of Werribee

    The Barefoot Boys of Werribee, 1933?
    Details

From
1928
To
1962
Categories
Farm School, Home and Methodist
Alternative Names
  • Allandale (also known as)
  • Tom Allan Memorial Home for Boys (also known as)
  • Werribee (also known as)
  • Werribee Boys' Home (also known as, 1938 - )

Werribee Farm School, near Wundowie, was established by the Methodist Church in 1928 to train boys aged 10 to14 years in farm work. By 1953, girls were admitted to Werribee (then called 'Allandale') with their brothers. The property was sold in 1962.

Details

Werribee Farm School, near Wundowie, was established by the Methodist Church in November 1928 to train boys aged 10 to14 years in farm work.

In 1938, the objectives of the Werribee Boys' Home (Farm School) were described in the Report by the Royal Commissioner on Youth Employment and the Apprenticeship System (p.lxix) as 'housing and training boys in farm pursuits' and accommodating 'boys who, on prospects, appear to have less opportunity than the average boy (e.g., boys from poor homes) and destitute orphan boys.'

The Royal Commissioner recommended (p.lxx) that the Government pay a maintenance allowance of 10 shillings per week for each 'destitute orphan boy' at Werribee provided the school undertook vocational and general education and training to the satisfaction of the Education Department. By 1940, this recommendation had not been implemented.

By 1953, girls were admitted to Werribee (by then called 'Allandale') with their brothers. The property was sold in 1962.

Events

1928 - 1962
Location - Werribbee Farm School was located on Chedaring road, Wundowie. Location: Wundowie

Related Events

Related Organisations

  • Methodist Children's Home (1922 - 1959)

    Werribee Farm School and the Methodist Children's Home were run by the Methodist Homes for Children. At times, there was quite a lot of contact between them and children (particularly boys) often lived in both Homes.

    Date: 1928 - 1959

  • Mofflyn (1959 - 1984)

    Allandale (also known as the Werribee Farm School) and Mofflyn were run by the Methodist Homes for Children. At times, there was quite a lot of contact between them and children often lived in both Homes until Allandale closed.

    Date: 1959 - 1962

Publications

Books

  • Goulding, D., Creagh, H. and Jenkins, T., The Barefoot Boys of Werribee: the untold story of the Methodist Home for Children, by those who were there, Uniting Church in Australia, Western Australia, 2009. Details

Online Resources

Photos

The Barefoot Boys of Werribee
Title
The Barefoot Boys of Werribee
Type
Document
Date
1933?

Details

The Werribee Song
Title
The Werribee Song
Type
Document
Date
1937? - 1945?

Details

Farm Schools
Title
Farm Schools
Type
Document
Date
28 February 1938
Source
Parliament of Western Australia

Details

Enquiry by Mr. John Moss. Points on which information is needed as to provision for the welfare of children emigrating from the United Kingdom to Australia
Title
Enquiry by Mr. John Moss. Points on which information is needed as to provision for the welfare of children emigrating from the United Kingdom to Australia
Type
Document
Date
10 May 1951
Source
National Archives of Australia

Details

Methodist Homes for Children Response to Moss Questionnaire
Title
Methodist Homes for Children Response to Moss Questionnaire
Type
Document
Date
1 June 1951
Source
National Archives of Australia

Details

The 'Homes' Herald 1965 [Methodist Homes for Children]
Title
The 'Homes' Herald 1965 [Methodist Homes for Children]
Type
Document
Date
December 1965
Source
Uniting Church (Synod of Western Australia) Archives
Note
The use of funds from the sale of the Werribee Farm School lands was discussed in the December 1965 edition of The ‘Homes’ Herald.

Details

The 'Homes' Herald, 1966 [Methodist Homes for Children]
Title
The 'Homes' Herald, 1966 [Methodist Homes for Children]
Type
Document
Date
December 1966
Source
Uniting Church (Synod of Western Australia) Archives
Note
The use of funds from the sale of the Werribee Farm School lands to the University of WA was discussed in the December 1966 edition of The ‘Homes’ Herald.

Details

Mofflyn turns back the pages
Title
Mofflyn turns back the pages
Type
Document
Date
February 2006
Source
Uniting Church (Synod of Western Australia) Archives.

Details

Sources used to compile this entry: Report of the Royal Commission on Youth Employment and the Apprenticeship System, Royal Commissions Held in Western Australia, Parliament of Western Australia, 28 February 1938, http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/intranet/libpages.nsf/WebFiles/Royal+Commission+1938/$FILE/RC1.pdf. p.lxix.; 'Motion - Child Welfare Department. Maintenance of Children', in Hansard Archive 1870 to 1995, Parliament of Western Australia, 4 December 1940, https://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/Hansard/hansard1870to1995.nsf/83cc4ce93b5d4e0b48257b33001cfef6/BF96AA998FE9A93748257A4E0010E9F2/$File/19401204_Assembly.pdf; Goulding, D., Creagh, H. and Jenkins, T., The Barefoot Boys of Werribee: the untold story of the Methodist Home for Children, by those who were there, Uniting Church in Australia, Western Australia, 2009; Information Services, Department for Community Development, 'able 64: Young People at the Werribee Farm School (Tom Allen Memorial Home, Allendale), 1930 - 1962', Signposts: A Guide for Children and Young People in Care in WA from 1920, Government of Western Australia, 2004, https://signposts.communities.wa.gov.au//pdf/pdf.aspx.

Prepared by: Debra Rosser

Created: 15 December 2013, Last modified: 7 November 2018

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