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South Australia - Organisation

Merrilama Cottage, Glenelg (1960 - 1979)

  • Merrilama Cottage

    Merrilama Cottage, c. 1960, courtesy of Annual Report of the Children's Welfare and Public Relief Board, 1960.
    Details

From
1960
To
1979
Categories
Cottage Home, Government-run and Home

Merrilama Cottage was the first suburban cottage home established by the government. It opened in 1960 at Glenelg. The Cottage accommodated up to ten State children in a family-style setting under the supervision of a cottage mother. Children attended local schools and churches. In 1979 Merrilama Cottage was renamed the Southern Region Group Home.

Details

Merrilama Cottage was the first of six suburban cottages to be established by the Children's Welfare and Public Relief Board in the 1960s. It opened at 36 Gordon Street, Glenelg in 1960. The other cottages were Stirling Cottage at St Peters, Clark Cottage at Clarence Park, Spence Cottage at Kensington Gardens, Colton Cottage at Thorngate and Hay Cottage at Lockleys.

The Annual Report of the Children's Welfare and Public Relief Board for 1960 explained that 'Merrilama' was an Aboriginal word meaning 'making'. The report also stated that the name was to given to reflect the Board's hope that 'the home will be the means of making useful happy citizens of the children who pass through it'.

As early as 1887 the State Children's Council had discussed the possibility of establishing cottage homes for State children. Although some smaller homes were erected and operated within the grounds of departmental institutions, such as the Girls Reformatory at Edwardstown, Merrilama was the first completely independent cottage. Its development was inspired by the growing number of children who were being placed under the care of the State and the increased time they were spending in large institutions because of difficulty in finding foster homes.

Merrilama accommodated up to ten children under the supervision of a cottage mother. The first cottage mother appointed was Miss O Mitchell and she initially cared for six children. One other full-time staff member and a part-time helper assisted her. During long school vacations holiday placements were arranged for the children, so that cottage staff could also take their annual leave.

Children placed at the Home were those who were under the care of the State. Departmental Annual Reports from the 1960s stress the belief that cottage style care enabled greater individual attention to be given to each child. The Department also felt that children living in cottage style accommodation and attending local schools would be less conspicuous as 'State' children, making it easier for them to become part of the local community. The cottage system aimed to simulate a form of family life with children sleeping in bedrooms rather than dormitories. It also allowed for brothers and sisters to be placed together. It was expected that children would attend church and other social activities as members of the cottage family.

Departmental reports also noted that providing cottage style care was less costly for the government than running large institutions.

In 1979, as part of a restructuring of departmental facilities, Merrilama Cottage was renamed the Southern Region Group Home.

Location

1960 - 1979
Address - Merrilama Cottage siuated at 36 Gordon Street, Glenelg. Location: Glenelg

Timeline

 1960 - 1979 Merrilama Cottage, Glenelg
       1979 - 1990 Southern Region Group Home
             1990 - 1994 Glandore Community Unit

Related Glossary Terms

Related Organisations

  • Clark Cottage, Clarence Park (1963 - 1979)

    The Department created six Cottage Homes in the 1960s. These included Merrilama Cottage, Stirling Cottage, Clark Cottage, Spence Cottage, Colton Cottage and Hay Cottage.

  • Colton Cottage, Thorngate (1965 - 1982)

    The Department created six Cottage Homes in the 1960s. These included Merrilama Cottage, Stirling Cottage, Clark Cottage, Spence Cottage, Colton Cottage and Hay Cottage.

  • Hay Cottage, Lockleys (1968 - 1979)

    The Department created six Cottage Homes in the 1960s. These included Merrilama Cottage, Stirling Cottage, Clark Cottage, Spence Cottage, Colton Cottage and Hay Cottage.

  • Spence Cottage, Kensington Gardens (1963 - 1980)

    The Department created six Cottage Homes in the 1960s. These included Merrilama Cottage, Stirling Cottage, Clark Cottage, Spence Cottage, Colton Cottage and Hay Cottage.

  • Stirling Cottage, St Peters (1962 - 1979)

    The Department created six Cottage Homes in the 1960s. These included Merrilama Cottage, Stirling Cottage, Clark Cottage, Spence Cottage, Colton Cottage and Hay Cottage.

Publications

Online Resources

Photos

Merrilama Cottage - sitting room
Title
Merrilama Cottage - sitting room
Type
Image
Date
c. 1960
Source
Annual Report of the Children's Welfare and Public Relief Board, 1960

Details

Merrilama Cottage - lawn and play area
Title
Merrilama Cottage - lawn and play area
Type
Image
Date
c. 1960
Source
Annual Report of the Children's Welfare and Public Relief Board, 1960

Details

Merrilama Cottage
Title
Merrilama Cottage
Type
Image
Date
c. 1960
Source
Annual Report of the Children's Welfare and Public Relief Board, 1960

Details

Sources used to compile this entry: George, Karen, Finding your own way, Nunkuwarrin Yunti of South Australia Inc., 2005, http://nunku.org.au/resources/; Mullighan, the Hon E.P., Children in State Care Commission of Inquiry: Allegations of sexual abuse and death from criminal conduct, presented to the South Australian Parliament by the Hon. E.P. Mullighan QC, Commisioner, Children in State Care Commission of Enquiry, Adelaide, South Australia, 2008, 564 pp, https://www.childprotection.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/107201/children-in-state-care-commission-of-inquiry-introducation.pdf; Annual Report of the Children's Welfare and Public Relief Board, 1960; Annual Report of the Children's Welfare and Public Relief Board, 1961.

Prepared by: Karen George and Gary George