Archives



Griffiths House

Griffiths House opened in 1945 as a hostel for children from remote areas of Central and Northern Australia who were attending school in Alice Springs. It was run by the Methodist Inland Mission and provided accommodation for between 30 and 40 children. Griffiths House closed in 1965 when St Philips College opened. Griffiths House opened…

Bradshaw House

Bradshaw House was the new name given to the Receiving Home, Alice Springs in 1966. It was run by the government as a short term care facility for children placed in the care of the Director of Welfare. Many children, however, remained in the institution for long periods. The average number of children resident in…

Dundas House

Dundas House was opened in Darwin by the government in 1961 as a Receiving Home for girls up to the age of 12 and school aged boys who required temporary accommodation. Children accommodated at the Home for more than one week were enrolled in schools in the Darwin area. It accommodated up to 12 children…

Palmerston House

Palmerston House was established in Darwin by the government in July 1963 as a Receiving Home for adolescent girls from the temporary Adolescent Receiving Home. In 1963 it accommodated seven girls, 5 of whom were State Children between 13 and 17 years old. During 1967-68 111 girls were accommodated at Palmerston House. Palmerston House moved…

Essington House

Essington House was opened by the government in 1963 as a Receiving Home for adolescent boys due to appear before the Children’s Court, and boys awaiting placement in other institutions or in foster care. From 1964 Essington House was also used for sittings of the Children’s Court and later became a Remand, Assessment and Training…

Receiving Home, Alice Springs

The Receiving Home, Alice Springs, was opened by the Government in 1959. Children taken into the care of the government were placed at the Receiving Home before they appeared in court, or while they were awaiting transfer to other institutions or into foster care. The Receiving Home also provided care for unmarried mothers and destitute…

Receiving Home, Darwin

The Receiving Home, Darwin, was opened by the Government in 1957 as a temporary institution to replace the Fannie Bay Receiving Home. Children of all ages taken into the care of the State were placed at the Receiving Home while waiting placement in other institutions or into foster care. It also operated at times as…

Fannie Bay Receiving Home

The Fannie Bay Receiving Home opened in Darwin in 1956. It was the first government run institution specifically established for children placed under the care of the Director of Welfare. Prior to its establishment the majority of these children were placed in interstate institutions. In May 1957, just under one year after it opened, the…

Kormilda College

Kormilda College was opened in Darwin by the Commonwealth Government in 1967. It operated as a hostel and boarding school for Indigenous children moving into secondary school education. From 1989 the Uniting Church and Anglican Church took over joint control of the College and it began to also provide education for day students and boarders…

Australian Inland Mission Hostel

The Australian Inland Mission Hostel was opened in Alice Springs in 1926. Run by the Australian Inland Mission it began as a hospital and hostel. After the opening of the Alice Springs Hospital in 1939 the Hostel provided accommodation for children from remote areas of Central Australia whose parents were admitted to the Hospital, as…