Carpentarian Reformatory for Boys

The Carpentarian Reformatory was established by the Department of Charitable Institutions at Brush Farm, a historic property in Eastwood, in 1894. It was located in an area sometimes referred to as Dundas Heights, so is often described as being in Dundas.

In 1897, the management of the Reformatory was taken over by the State Children’s Relief Department.

According to Peter Quinn, this institution was sometimes called the Shore Reformatory, as it was on land and was the counterpart of the Sobraon ship reformatory. In addition, boys at the Carpetarian dressed in naval uniforms, slept in hammocks and rang a ships’ bell and the Superintendent’s office was referred to as the quarter-deck

Detention at this reformatory was for nine months, considerably shorter than the three years favoured by the Department of Public Instruction for its reformatories and industrial schools. A school was provided on site.

Quinn writes that the new reformatory had a separate division for 40 boys from Rydalmere Probationary Home, who were considered ‘too vicious to be kept in ordinary homes.’ It quickly became overcrowded with boys convicted of offences and was investigated by Frederick Neitenstein, the former superintendent of the Sobraon, in 1897.

There are few records of this home or the children there. However, cricket matches were reported in local newspapers. Tragically, in 1906 two boys came to blows during a cricket match and George Barron Thomas died of injuries to his head and neck. His assailant was committed to stand trial for manslaughter. The case was reported as far afield as Tasmania.

In 1909 the Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate reported that five boys, aged 15-16 years, had escaped from the Carpentarian Reformatory. Three were caught in the railway station waiting room at Mount Colah, while two got as far as the Hawkesbury before giving themselves up to police. One was described as ‘a very clever lad’ and the boys, knowing descriptions of their clothes would be circulated, had managed to hide some other garments before making their escape. They were all returned to the reformatory.

In 1908, it was renamed to the Brush Farm Reformatory. It remained a reformatory until 1912.