Archives



Mentally Retarded Person’s Association Hostel

The Mentally Retarded Person’s Association Hostel opened in Darwin in 1968. Run by the Mentally Retarded Person’s Association it provided accommodation for people with intellectual disabilities. The Association also ran a pre-school and provided supported employment and training. The Mentally Retarded Persons Association Hostel closed in 1974.

Carpentaria Disability Services

Carpentaria Disabilty Services, also known as Carpentaria Community Services, was the new name given to the Harry Giese Centre around 1996. It provided 24 hour supported living services and respite care for people with disabilities including children. It was still operating in 2018.

The Harry Giese Centre

The Harry Giese Centre in Darwin opened in 1977. It was run by the Northern Territory Spastics Association (Inc), formerly the Darwin and Districts Spastics Paralysis Association, and provided assessment, treatment and residential care for people with disabilities including children. By 1985 it was providing services to one third of the young children with disabilities…

Leslie House

Leslie House was opened by Anglicare NT in Alice Springs in 2010 to provide residential care for young people aged 8 – 17 years waiting to be placed in foster or kinship care. It was located in the former premises of Leslie Cottage which was refurbished during 2009 and renamed Leslie House.

Bunyip House

Bunyip House opened in Darwin in 1981. Run by Somerville Homes and its successor Somerville Community Services, it provided residential care and treatment for children with severe disabilities. It accommodated up to 7 children. The closing date for Bunyip House is not yet known. Records suggest it may have closed in the mid-1980s. Bunyip House…

St Mary’s School, Darwin

St Mary’s School, also known as St Mary’s Primary School, was the new name given to St Joseph’s School in 1958. It was run by the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart and later came under the control of the Catholic Education Office, Diocese of Darwin. In the 1960s the school ceased to…

The Bindi Centre

The Bindi Centre was opened in Alice Springs in 1976 as an activity centre for young people with intellectual disabilities from throughout the Northern Territory. In the 1980s the Bindi Centre extended its services to provide supported accommodation in two residential units. The Bindi Centre then became part of a larger program known as Central…

The Alice Springs Spastic Centre Family Group Home

The Alice Springs Spastic Centre Family Group Home in Mills Street Alice Springs was opened by the Alice Springs Spastic Council in 1982. It accommodated 5 children with disabilities who lived with house parents. The Alice Springs Spastic Centre Family Group Home was closed after a fire. The date of this closure has not yet…

Pine Creek Home

The Pine Creek Home, which had operated from 1931 to 1932, was reopened by the government in 1940 as a place for Aboriginal children who were being transferred from government institutions to various Missions. In late 1940, 70 children were in residence in the Home. Pine Creek Home only operated for a matter of months…

Fox Crescent Cottage

Fox Crescent Cottage opened in Stuart Park in 1972. Run by Somerville Homes Incorporated it was the last of the six cottages which made up Somerville Cottage Homes. It accommodated up to eight children aged between 4 and 16 years under the supervision of cottage parents. The Cottage closed in 1974 and became a staff…