Swan Homes, in Middle Swan was created from a merger of two Anglican children's homes in 1943.The Perth Girls' Orphanage was evacuated to Swan Boys' Orphanage at Middle Swan during World War II, and the two children's homes merged into one institution. During this time, the type of accommodation changed from dormitories to large houses on the Middle Swan site. Swan Homes admitted children who were wards of the State, child migrants from Britain, and children placed privately by family or others. In 1960, Swan Homes became Swanleigh.
1869 - 1876 Perth Boys' Orphanage
1868 - 1942 Perth Girls' Orphanage
1876 - 1942 Swan Boys' Orphanage
1943 - 1959 Swan Homes
1960 - 2010 Swanleigh
Sources used to compile this entry: Information Services, Department for Community Development, Signposts: A Guide for Children and Young People in Care in WA from 1920, Government of Western Australia, 2004, https://signposts.communities.wa.gov.au//pdf/pdf.aspx; Peterkin, A. Roy, The Noisy Mansions : the story of Swanleigh 1868-1971, Perth Diocesan Trustees, Anglican Church of Australia, Midland, Western Australia, 1986. Part 2. For images of the grounds and of boys and staff, see p. 137 and p. 131..
Prepared by: Debra Rosser
Created: 15 March 2011, Last modified: 28 November 2014