Roelands Village was run by the Churches of Christ Federal Aborigines Mission Board Inc from 1975, as cottage homes for school-age Aboriginal children from all around the State. Children and young people at Roelands included those placed privately by parents and those who were state wards. Roelands closed in 1984. Children and young people from…
Roelands Native Mission Farm was established in 1938 and was run by a council of management with Protestant church associations. It began as a farm for Aboriginal families but by 1941 admitted only Aboriginal children. At first, children under 8 were placed at Roelands, but older children were later placed there. There were 85 boys…
Chandler Boys’ Farm was established in 1932 on a property at Seven Hills on the banks of the Collie River at Roelands. It was a privately-run training centre for up to 20 unemployed boys aged over 14 years who were selected for placement. Some had parents who paid fees, but others were subsidised. The farm…
Riverbank, in Caversham, was established in 1960 by the Child Welfare Department as a secure detention facility with a work-skills focus for up to 33 teenage boys. By 1970, 43 boys could be accommodated and by 1979 over 1,000 boys had been admitted to Riverbank for an average of nine months. After discharge, boys were…
Redhill was established by the Anglican Church (Perth Diocese) in 1903 as a ‘senior reformatory school’ and ‘home for neglected boys’, beginning with six boys sent by a magistrate. In 1921 Redhill became a home for boys and youth up to 18 years with intellectual development disorders (described at the time as ‘mentally defective’). Redhill…
Rangevue Hostel was established by the Presbyterian Church in 1969 in Mount Lawley, as hostel for female Aboriginal students attending the Mt Lawley High School and business colleges in Perth. It operated until at least 1973, possibly closing by the end of that year. Rangevue Hostel was established by the Presbyterian Church in 1969, with…
Rangeview Juvenile Remand Centre, in Murdoch, was established in 1994 as a government-run detention facility for up to 80 male and female youth. By October 2012, the young people at Rangeview were transferred to the Banksia Hill Detention Centre. The Rangeview facility re-opened as the Wandoo Reintegration Centre for young adults in November 2012. Rangeview…
Pukulari Cottage, in the Kalgoorlie suburb of Boulder, was established in 1974 as part of the Kurrawang Mission run by the Christian Brethren. Its purpose was to provide accommodation for up to 12 children from Kurrawang to take part in community life as well as going to school in Kalgoorlie. In 1984 the Kurrawang Mission…
The Presbyterian Church was established in the Crown Colony of Western Australia in 1879. In 1901, it joined with other States to form the Presbyterian Church of Australia and in 1977 became part of the Uniting Church in Australia. The Presbyterian Church in WA was involved with missions, Children’s Homes and Homes for children and…
Port Hedland Group Home was established in 1977. It was government-run and provided emergency and short term accommodation for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children in Port Hedland. By 1979, another group home had been opened in South Hedland, giving child welfare authorities a choice of placements. The Port Hedland Group Home probably closed around 1983.