The Karingal Youth Hostel was established by the Church of England in 1952 as a hostel for boys aged 15 to 18 who were studying or doing an apprenticeship and therefore on limited income. It was run by a management committee under the control of the Church. Named Karingal, meaning 'Home', the building at 34 Grange Road, Hindmarsh, was set on spacious grounds with a tennis court, fruit trees and an old coach house used for storing bikes. The building was renovated by the Church of England before the Hostel opened. The rules of the Hostel stated that its purpose was to provide a home and 'wise supervision' for any adolescent boys leaving the Church of England Boy's Home at Walkerville or similar institutions until they became 'self supporting and no longer in need of guidance and help'. Boys were expected to help keep the home tidy, wash dishes and do other odd jobs as required by the Superintendent or Housemother. Each pay day salaries were handed to the Superintendent who, in the presence of each boy, allocated them to board, pocket money and savings. Although boys were allowed freedom of choice in religious matters, they were encouraged to attend church regularly.
In 1959 when St Francis House in Semaphore closed a number of boys from that institution came to Karingal Youth Hostel.
By 1964 the demand for places at the Hostel had diminished. During a period of discussion over the future of the Home, the management committee contacted some former residents for feedback. A number were quite critical of the superintendent's running of the Hostel. This contributed to the decision to close Karingal in 1964 and hand the building over to the Social Welfare Committee of the Church for the purpose of conducting a nursing home for sick and elderly people. The Karingal Nursing Home closed in 2000 and the building was sold.
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Last updated:
18 June 2018
Cite this: http://www.findandconnect.gov.au/guide/sa/SE00012
First published by the Find & Connect Web Resource Project for the Commonwealth of Australia, 2011
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