King Edward Memorial Hospital (KEMH) has been Western Australia’s principal public maternity and gynaelogical hospital since 1916. Many young women in out of home care were admitted there, and many babies were adopted from KEMH.
In 1958, following overcrowding in the maternity wards of KEMH, the state government purchased Kensington House, at 91 Hensman Road. This was a former private maternity hospital which was converted into an annexe of KEMH known as Kensington Annexe. This was primarily used as a maternity facility, including as a place where women stayed prior to giving birth and their babies being adopted out.
King Edward Memorial Hospital was mentioned in the Commonwealth Contribution to Former Forced Adoption Policies and Practices Inquiry (2012) as an institution that was involved in forced adoption.
In 2023, KEMH apologised for its role in past forced adoption practices, noting that “there has been a myriad of painful enduring consequences … we are deeply sorry for the trauma and heartbreak that resulted for all those who have been affected by this practice”.
