| Gilliamia Hostel, Onslow |
| Years of Operation | At least 1971, possibly earlier, to around the early 1990s. |
| Role Of Facility | Residential child care for school children in a hostel setting. The Onslow Working Boys Hostel was mentioned in the 1984 Annual Report, so it is possible that the function of the facility changed over time, as the local need changed. |
| Sponsoring Agency | Departmental - predessors to the current Department for Child Protection and Family Support |
| Address(es) | Onslow
(Onslow is situated approximately 1,380 kilometres north of Perth.) |
| Aliases | Onslow Working Boys Hostel |
| Brief History | When surveyed in 1971, it was noted that Gilliamia was owned and managed by the Department of Native Welfare and was for ‘educational purposes’. It catered for 66 primary school children. (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 Gilliamia facility was upgraded in the 1975/76 year.
In 1979, the hostel catered for 48 children from Giralia, Bullara, Kooline, Wyloo, Mt Stewart, Redhill, Nanutarra, Range, Cane River, Peedamulla, Koordarrie, Urala and Minderoo Stations; and from the Rocklea and Ashburton Downs areas. (Annual Report of the Department for Community Welfare, 1979).
By 1980, the role of these facilities was becoming more open to community and family involvement: “The function of the Department hostel in caring for aboriginal children so that they may have regular schooling, is expanding to provide a back-up service for families who may wish to use the facility to provide an occasional meal, a laundry service and provide homework supervision. This is the need that some families have in making the transition into homes of their own in the local township. Greater efforts are also being made to provide children and parents with opportunities to spend more time together by providing camping facilities when the parents come to town.” (Annual Report of the Department for Community Welfare, June 30th 1980).
In 1982, responsibility for the country hostels transferred to the Field Services section of the Department. Gilliamia was administered by the Pilbara Division. (Annual Report of the Department for Community Welfare, June 30th 1982).
Grant-in-Aid received in 1984 for furniture.
During 1987, the “practices of accepting only senior students, and staffing hostels with Aboriginal staff were introduced” and “eight of the twelve country hostels [were] now managed by Aboriginal personnel.” (Annual Report of the Department for Community Services, June 30th 1987).
“Aboriginal students from remote country areas may have the opportunity to obtain primary or secondary education at metropolitan or regional schools. This enables them to obtain a level of education not otherwise available. Some of these students board out at aboriginal educational hostels. They live as close to their own communities as practical, and return to their community at the end of term. Care in aboriginal educational hostels is provided by couples who live-in fulltime. Country facilities have live-in wages staff.” (Submission of the Department for Community Services to the Residential Planning Review Taskforce, March 31st 1987).
When Gilliamia Hostel closed in 1990, the Department attempted to run it as a Group Home, but this was not successful. |
| Records | Departmental records for children placed by the Department of Community Welfare or the Department of Native Welfare may exist. Of particular interest, if able to be located, are the Department of Native Welfare “Resident Details Information Sheet (1) Hostel and Private Board Placement ” and “Resident Details Information Sheet (2) Hostel and Private Board Placement”.
Additionally, the Department for Child Protection and Family Support’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) 6217 6888
Country free call: 1800 176 888
Email: foi@communities.wa.gov.au
Website: www.communities.wa.gov.au |
| back |