Archives



Ngangganawili Group Home

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…

Meekatharra Hostel

Meekatharra Hostel was one of two government-run hostels in Meekatharra and was first known as Consols Road Hostel. It opened in 1983, for Aboriginal boys going to high school in the town. By 1995, Meekatharra Hostel was the only hostel and was fully focused on ‘care and protection’ admissions of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children of…

McCall Centre

The McCall Centre began in West Perth in 1971 as a government-run Home intended for the long-term accommodation of up to 20 children aged from four years old, whom child welfare authorities diagnosed with significant emotional or behavioural issues. The Centre moved to Highgate in 1972, to Mosman Park in 1973, and by 1974 admitted…

Laverton Hostel

Laverton Hostel, in Craiggie Street, Laverton was established in 1984 as a government-run education hostel for Aboriginal school-age children. By 1986, the hostel provided emergency accommodation for mostly pre-school age children and by the 1990s it was an emergency hostel for children and young people, from birth to 18 years, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal. Laverton Hostel…

Lady Lawley Cottage by the Sea

Lady Lawley Cottage by the Sea was established in Cottesloe in 1903. It has provided respite and convalescent care for sick and recovering children, and care for children with disabilities. These children were placed in the Cottage by both their families and by welfare authorities. The Cottage was run by an independent management committee until…

Kyewong Hostel

Kyewong, in Como, was established around 1967 as a government-run Aboriginal education and employment hostel for high school-age children who came from country areas to continue their education in Perth. In 1970, it was transferred to the Baptist Union, for young women coming to Perth from Marribank, seeking employment. By 1975, the hostel had been…

Kalgoorlie Group Home

Kalgoorlie Group Home was established as a government-run facility to accommodate Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children, usually aged under 5 years, on a short term or emergency basis in a family-style home. It replaced the Goldfields Group Home. In 2014, it remained open. The Kalgoorlie Group Home has operated almost continuously since it was established as…

Ieramugadu Shelter

Ieramugadu Shelter opened in Roebourne in 1982 as a shelter for teenage girls who did not have a home. It was managed by Ieramugadu Community Incorporated, which no longer operates. Ieramugadu Shelter closed by 1994.

Goldfields Group Home

Goldfields Group Home, (also known as Boulder Group Home) was established around 1980 as a government-run group home that accommodated Aboriginal children, aged 0-13 years, on a short-term or emergency basis. Most children admitted were under 5 years of age. The Goldfields Group Home closed around 1987 and was replaced by the Kalgoorlie Group Home….

Girls’ Friendly Society (Western Australia)

The Girls’ Friendly Society (GFS) opened in Perth in 1888. From the 1950s, possibly earlier and for an unknown period, the Girls’ Friendly Society provided emergency accommodation for female Wards of the Department if alternative suitable placement could not be found. In 2013, it remained active in Australia, known simply as GFS. The Girls’ Friendly…