Horton House (1963 - 1976)

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Former residents of Horton House gave evidence to the Commission of Inquiry into Abuse of Children in Queensland Institutions in 1998-1999. Some remembered being easily identifiable as 'Home kids' when they attended school, because girls from Horton House wore box-pleated tunics and white blouses, rather than the regulation school uniform (p.85).

During the 1960s the trend towards providing care for children in smaller cottages had commenced. In 1965, work began on erecting two cottage units on the land that incorporated Horton House. By August of 1969 three cottages stood on the site: Alford House, Hocking House and Ray Powell Cottage.

The Salvation Army's Horton Village Policy & Procedure Manual describes the use of Horton House from 1966 onwards.

'When the children were moved to the cottages in 1966 a small group of elderly ladies, some of which had disabilities, were accommodated in the original Horton House. The living situation proved unsuitable for them and therefore ceased to function.

In 1972, accommodation in Horton House was given over to 8 young women who were attending a sheltered workshop for intellectually disabled persons.'

In 1976 the whole complex became known as Horton Village.