Lentara was the new name given to the Methodist Children’s Homes at Magill in 1960. Run by the Adelaide Central Methodist Mission, Lentara comprised Greenslade Home, Minnie Maughan, Curtice, Cann and I’Anson Cottages. In 1964 Roberts Cottage was built. Each Home provided accommodation for up to 12 children. In 1968 children from the Croker Island Mission in the Northern Territory were placed at Lentara. In 1977 the name Lentara ceased to be used and the site was subdivided and sold off. Only Roberts and Minnie Maughan Cottages continued to operate.
Lentara, an Aboriginal word meaning ‘dawning of the day’, was the new name given to the Methodist Children’s Homes in 1960. The Home was also officially known at that time as Lentara, the Central Mission Homes for Children Inc.
Run by the Adelaide Central Methodist Mission, Lentara comprised Greenslade Home, Minnie Maughan, Curtice, Cann and I’Anson Cottages. In 1964 Roberts Cottage was built to replace Roberts Home which had been demolished in 1954. All of the Cottages provided accommodation for up to 12 children under the supervision of a housemother or cottage parents. Curtice, Cann and I’Anson Cottages provided family group care with the aim to keep siblings together wherever possible.
In 1966, when the Methodist run Croker Island Mission in the Northern Territory was closed some Aboriginal children from the Mission were sent to Lentara.
During 1976-1977 the Adelaide Central Methodist Mission began to decentralize cottage care and from 1977 the name Lentara was no longer used. That year the Magill property was divided into allotments. For a short period of time Greenslade Home was used for a ‘family live in trial’ accommodating a father and his six children. Shortly afterwards, the cottages were offered for sale and only Minnie Maughan and Roberts Cottages continued to run independently.
In 2013 the original Greenslade Home was a private residence with the name, Lentara.
From
1960
To
1977
Alternative Names
The Adelaide Central Methodist Mission Children’s Home
Magill Children's Home
Central Mission Homes for Children Inc
1960 - 1977
Lentara was situated at 6 Penfold Road, Magill, South Australia (Building Still standing)
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