| Fitzroy Crossing Hostel |
| Years of Operation | 1952 to around 1976. |
| Role Of Facility | Residential child care for primary and secondary school children, though the age range of children varied over the time of the hostel’s operation. |
| Sponsoring Agency | United Aborigines Mission (1956-1975) / Departmental - predessors to the current Department for Child Protection |
Other facilities in
Signposts that are
related to the
Sponsoring Agency | See the entry “United Aborigines Mission” in the earlier section of Signposts, “List of Facilities” |
| Address(es) | Fitzroy Crossing is situated 391 kilometres east of Broome, and 641 kilometres west of Kununurra. |
| Brief History | When surveyed in 1971, it was noted that the United Aborigines Mission operated a hostel at Fitzroy Crossing which catered for “80 primary level students”. (Wilson and Robinson (1971) Aboriginal Hostels in Perth: A Comparative Survey).
Education and employment hostels were operated by or in association with the Native Welfare Department mostly from the mid to late 1960s and early 1970s but came under the administration of the Community Welfare Department from 1972. For notes on a general history of these facilities, see the section on Hostels at the beginning of Signposts.
The Fitzroy Crossing Hostel was replaced in 1976. “Three Group Homes managed by Aboriginal house parents under a representative Aboriginal committee, have been established to replace the dormitory-style hostel [see entry, Fitzroy Crossing Group Homes].” (Annual Report of the Department for Community Welfare, 1976).
Information from the Department for Child Protection indicates that the hostel was relinquished by the United Aborigines Mission (UAM) to the Department of Community Welfare “in a move that took the Department by surprise in or around 1972. One possible reason for the handover could have been that the UAM was not in a financial position to continue operating the Hostel, and notified the Department accordingly.” (Internal Memo Manager Hostels Group to A/Manager Information Support Services, Department for Community Development, July 19th 2004). |
| Records | Departmental records for children placed by the Department of Community Welfare or the Department of Native Welfare may exist.
Additionally, the Department for Child Protection's Aboriginal Index and the guide, “Looking West”, should be consulted for information.
According to the The Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies website www.aiatsis.gov.au , the State Records Office in Western Australia “holds extensive records relating to missions.” Contact details are below. |
| 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) 6217 6888
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: GroundFloor Mon-Fri:9.30am-4.30pm
Telephone: (08) 9427 3360
Facsimile: (08) 9427 3368
Email: sro@sro.wa.gov.au |
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