The Royal West Australian Institute for the Blind (RIB) was established in 1895 as the WA Industrial School for the Blind in Maylands. It was run by a private committee of ‘subscribers’ who supported the Institute financially. Children lived and went to school at the Institute and there was also a workshop and living quarters…
Greenplace was a government-run facility, established in Mosman Park in 1914 as an annexe of the Claremont Hospital for the Insane. It admitted female psychiatric patients, possibly including adolescents with intellectual disabilities. From 1946 until it closed in 1979, Greenplace was a hostel for female psychiatric patients. Greenplace was established in 1914 as an annexe…
Claremont Hospital for the Insane was established in 1903, becoming known as the Claremont Mental Hospital in 1933. It was a government-run facility that accommodated children and young people with intellectual and other disabilities until the hospital closed in 1972. Claremont Mental Hospital was Western Australia’s main mental health institution from 1903 to 1972. Children…
Whitby Falls Hospital was a government-run facility, established in 1897 at Jarrahdale, as an annexe of the Fremantle Asylum. Male psychiatric patients described as ‘quiet and chronic’ were sent there as well as adolescents with intellectual disabilities. In 1972 the hospital closed and a hostel was opened on the site. Whitby Falls Hospital was started…
Fremantle Asylum was a government-run facility, established in 1857 to house adults with mental illness. By the 1890s increasing numbers of children aged 9-15 years with intellectual and other disabilities were sent there. Fremantle Asylum closed in 1909. Fremantle Asylum was built and run by the colonial government from 1857. By the 1890s increasing numbers…
The Lunacy Act 1903 (015 of 1903 (3 Edw. VII No. 15)) followed the 1900 (Vosper) Select Committee, and was reportedly based on good practice and professional knowledge at the time. Two provisions for children were made: the ability to transfer a child at an industrial school who appeared to be ‘insane’ to a government…
The Lunacy Act 1871 (No. 9 of 1871) did not distinguish between mental illness and intellectual or physical disability. This meant that children with intellectual disabilities, or physical disabilities such as epilepsy could be, and often were, sent to Fremantle Asylum. This act was repealed by the Lunacy Act 1903 (015 of 1903 (3 Edw….
The Lunacy Department was the government organisation established as a result of the Lunacy Act 1903. The department was responsible for the administration of the Act and for mental health hospitals and services. During these years it was common to place children with intellectual and other disabilities in mental health institutions. The Department ran four…
A Select Committee to Inquire into the Adoption of Children Amendment Bill 1983 was appointed from the Legislative Assembly of the Western Australian Parliament on 7 December 1983. The Select Committee tabled its report on 11 October 1984 and its recommendations were debated in 1985. Many of those recommendations were incorporated in the Adoption of…
‘War Cry’ is a file held by the National Archives of Australia’s Perth office. The file was created by the Postmaster-General’s Department. In the file are three issues of the Salvation Army’s War Cry magazine, dated 30 May, 6 June and 13 June 1942. These are samples of the magazine, submitted so that they could…
Dec 18, 2024
Nov 15, 2024
