Please contact the Library & Archives NT:
Email: ask@lant.nt.gov.au
Darwin Office:
Postal Address: GPO Box 874, Darwin NT 0801
Phone: (08) 8924 7677 or 1800 019 155
Alice Springs Office:
Postal Address: PO Box 8225, Alice Springs NT 0871
Phone: (08) 8951 566
Quote this number to access your records: Northern Territory Archives Service Series ID (NTRS), 50
These records are part of Records of the Uniting Church in Australia, Northern Synod (1940 - 1986).
Records relating to child care, Somerville Homes, Darwin is a series of files concerning the administration of Somerville Cottage Homes which was run by the United Church, Northern Synod. The files mention the names and addresses of the various cottages and sometimes the names of cottage parents. Some files include information about, and names of, children in the Homes.
To access any records created by agencies of the Uniting Church, Northern Synod which are less than 30 years old, you will need permission from the Uniting Church. Once the records are wholly within the open period, that is, completely over 30 years old, they are available for public access to researchers registered with the Northern Territory Archives Service (NTAS).
It is common, however, for records controlled by the Uniting Church to span the open and closed periods and so, if there is any doubt as to the date range of an item, permission must be sought prior to access.
To apply for permission you will need to write to the General Secretary at the Uniting Church in Australia Northern Synod Office stating why you would like to access the records and including a listing of the series and items that you would like to see. Archives staff can assist you with this. Item listings for each of the series listed below are available through the Northern Territory Archives Service. The address for the General Secretary is included on the NTAS Mission Records Information leaflet.
When permission has been granted, the Uniting Church will inform you and NTAS. You can then contact NTAS to arrange a time to visit the search room and view the records.
The files in this series, Records relating to child care, Somerville Homes, Darwin, include minutes of meetings of the Somerville Homes Council, incoming and outgoing correspondence (particularly with the Welfare Branch), financial records, building records, reports and other documents. Some files include reports on particular children in the Homes, and/or lists of children. For example one file relates to arrangements for holiday hosting of children interstate in 1969-70. Also among the files are articles, reports, newsletters and copies of forms and information about other Homes interstate.