| Cosmo Newberry |
| Years of Operation | From 1939 as a child care facility until around 1973. |
| Role Of Facility | Family groups, residential child care, possibly a school. |
| Address(es) | Cosmo Newberry, Via Laverton |
| Brief History | While, like most “missions”, families lived on site, there were also residential child care and possibly school facilities at Cosmo Newberry. Prior to 1939, there had been a Government Rations Depot on the site, but a child care facility opened there in 1939 under Government control. In 1953, the United Aborigines Mission took over the site, but it is unclear whether a separate child care facility was in operation during UAM’s tenure.
Cosmo Newberry had accommodation for “18 children at a resident Government Primary School” when surveyed in 1971. At that time, Cosmo Newberry was controlled by the UAM. (Wilson and Robinson (1971) Aboriginal Hostels in Perth: A Comparative Survey).
It is likely that Cosmo Newberry was handed over to the local community in 1973, when the handover of Mt Margaret [see entry] occurred, as the two ‘missions’ were related. |
| Records | According to the The Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies website, the State Records Office in Western Australia “holds extensive records relating to missions.” Contact details are below.
Departmental records for children placed by the Department of Community Welfare or the Department of Native Welfare may exist.
Additionally, the Department for Community Development’s Aboriginal Index and the guide, “Looking West”, should be consulted for information. |
| Access | While access to records is restricted to protect the privacy of individuals, people are encouraged to enquire. |
| Contact Details | Freedom of Information
Department of Communities
Locked Bag 5000, Fremantle WA 6959
Telephone: (08) 6414 3344
Country free call: 1800 176 888
Email: foi@communities.wa.gov.au
Website: www.communities.wa.gov.au
For general information relating to missions:
State Records Office, Alexander Library Building
James St West Entrance
Perth WA 6000.
Search Centre: Ground Floor Mon-Fri:9.30am-4.30pm
Telephone: (08) 9427 3360
Facsimile: (08) 9427 3368
Email: sro@sro.wa.gov.au |
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