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Campbell House Farm School, Meningie

Campbell House Farm School was established in 1959 at Meningie by the Aborigines Protection Board. It was run as a residential home and school for Aboriginal boys to be trained in farm work. It initially accommodated 14 boys. Boys attended schools in Meningie. Campbell House closed in 1963 and the boys were placed in foster…

Boys Reformatory, Magill

The Boys Reformatory, Magill, reopened in 1891 at the Magill Industrial School, after the closure of the Reformatory Hulk, Fitzjames. It was run by the State Children’s Council. From 1898 the Reformatory became a home for Protestant boys only. Catholic boys were sent to St John the Baptist Home for Boys, Brooklyn Park. In 1967…

Brookway Park

Brookway Park opened as a government reformatory in Campbelltown in February 1965. It accommodated boys aged 9 to 15, initially transferred from the Boys’ Reformatory, Magill. In 1965 it accommodated close to 60 boys. Extensions were added in 1966 and by 1970, 97 boys were accommodated. Brookway Park closed in 1978. Boys were transferred to…

Boys’ Reformatory Hulk, Fitzjames

The Boys’ Reformatory Hulk, Fitzjames was refitted as a reformatory for boys by the Destitute Board in 1880. The former Canadian ship was moored at Largs Bay. Boys were brought to the Hulk from Illfracombe Boys Reformatory, the Boys Reformatory, Magill and Magill Industrial School. In 1891 the boys were moved back to the newly…

Bedford Park Boys’ Training Centre

Bedford Park Boys’ Training Centre was established by the government in 1961 at Bedford Park. It operated as a reformatory and took boys from the Boys’ Reformatory at Magill and temporarily housed girls from Vaughan House in separate sections. From 1962 it accommodated up to 50 boys above school age only. The home closed in…

Umeewarra Mission Children’s Home

Umeewarra Mission Children’s Home opened near Port Augusta in 1937. It was run by the Christian Brethren as a Home and school for Aboriginal children.. In the 1950s-60s between 50 and 70 children lived at the Home. In 1964 the Mission came under government control and was renamed Davenport Reserve. The Open Brethren Assemblies of…

St Vincent de Paul Orphanage

St Vincent de Paul Orphanage was established by the Catholic Church in 1866 in Gilberton. In 1867 it took in Catholic children from the Grace Darling Hotel. The Orphanage moved to Adelaide in 1868, to Mitcham in 1872, Burnside in 1875 and Millswood in 1888. The Orphanage was run by the Orphanage Board from 1866…

St Stanislaus House

St Stanislaus House was opened in 1956 in Royal Park. Also known as the Polish Orphanage, it was run by the Resurrection Sisters and accommodated orphans, children from broken homes and children whose mothers were out at work or were ill. Some children were of primary school age and attended local Catholic schools. Staffing shortages…

St Joseph’s Refuge

St Joseph’s Refuge was established in Adelaide by the Catholic Church in 1868. Run by the Sisters of St Joseph, it provided refuge for unmarried mothers and children to the age of three years. Older children went to St Joseph’s Orphanage, Largs Bay. The refuge moved to Mitcham, Norwood and then Fullarton in 1901. In…

St Joseph’s Orphanage Largs Bay

St Joseph’s Orphanage at Largs Bay, formerly St Joseph’s Sanatorium, opened in 1907. Run by the Sisters of St Joseph it took in infants and school age children. From 1941 it accommodated only boys aged 3 to 12. Girls were sent to St Vincent de Paul Orphanage, Goodwood and older boys to St John’s Boystown,…