Oolanyah Hostel, in Marble Bar, was established before 1971 as a government-run Aboriginal education and employment hostel for school-age children who came from outstations and communities to Marble Bar to go to school. At first, Oolanyah was for primary school students, but by 1987 only high school students were admitted. Oolanyah closed around 1993. Government…
Oceanview, in Cottesloe (or Mosman Park), was run from 1970-1972 by the Pallottines (Society of the Catholic Apostolates) as a hostel for up to 14 male Aboriginal teenagers who were in apprenticeships. From 1972, Oceanview (which was also known as the Beach Street Hostel, and the Working Youths Hostel – Cottesloe) became a government-run hostel…
Nyandi was established by the Child Welfare Department in Bentley in 1970 as a maximum security female youth detention centre for up to 30 adolescent girls on a campus that included a 10-bed residential unit (Gwyn-lea). From 1986, Nyandi also admitted boys aged 12-14 years, and from 1989 young people on remand were admitted. In…
Nulungu, in Broome, was established in 1971 by the Christian Brothers as a school. Over the years, Nulungu also accommodated Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children who were wards of the State when they came to Broome for medical treatment. These children may have records held by child welfare authorities. In 1994, Nulungu became St Mary’s College…
The Northam Group Home was established in 1980, providing government-run emergency and short-term accommodation for up to eight Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children from babies to young teenagers, with some long-term admissions. In 2002, the Northam Group Home closed due to staff shortages, but it was open in 2004, possibly closing permanently in 2005. Government reports…
Northam Cottages were three group Homes established by Centrecare Children’s Cottages (1979-1992) and Djooraminda (from 1992) to accommodate Aboriginal children in family-type Homes. Children and young people aged up to 15 years were admitted, often in sibling groups, either referred by the department responsible for child welfare, or as private admissions. The Homes were open…
Norseman Mission was a ‘children’s mission’ established in 1935 by members of the Churches of Christ and then run from 1942 by the Churches of Christ Federal Aborigines Mission Board Inc. Its purpose was to provide accommodation, education and vocational training for children and young people aged 2-15 years. The number of children at the…
Nollamara Cottage was established around 1973 as a temporary Home for children transferred from Mogumber to Perth for schooling and other reasons, such as access to medical treatment in Perth. It was run by Mogumber until 1974, then the Mogumber Training Centre until 1980 and then Sister Kate’s Child and Family Care Services. Nollamara Cottage…
Nindeebai Education Hostel, in Boulder, was established in 1971 or 1972 as a government-run education hostel for Aboriginal teenagers who were going to high school in Kalgoorlie. It closed in 1984. Nindeebai Education Hostel, which was purpose-built in 1971, was originally going to be known as the Goldfields Students’ Hostel, but the annual report of…
The Ngangganawili Group Home, in Wiluna, was a government-run group home established to provide emergency accommodation for children. It is known to have been operating in 1982. The Department for Community Welfare said in its annual report in 1982 (Signposts 2004, p.374) that one of the factors that led to the establishment of the Ngangganawili…