| Greenmount (Innaminka) Hostel, Greenmount |
| Years of Operation | Operating from around 1971 and remains open to the present (2004). |
| Sponsoring Agency | Departmental - predessor to the current Department for Child Protection / Methodist Overseas Mission / Uniting Church Family and Children’s Services / Sister Kate’s [subsequently Manguri] |
Other facilities in
Signposts that are
related to the
Sponsoring Agency | See the entry “Uniting Church” in the earlier section of Signposts, “Non-Government Agencies and their Subsidiary Institutions” |
| Address(es) | 69 Innaminka Road, Greenmount |
| Brief History | In 1971, the Methodist Overseas Mission was negotiating with the Department of Native Welfare and for the management of a new hostel at Greenmount pursuant to their policy of gradually replacing missions with small ‘scatter homes’ as they had already done with Applecross Cottage and Ardross House [see entries]. They had not yet received approval of this policy from their governing body, the Annual Board of Missions. 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.
Information from the Uniting Church indicates that Greenmount was run as a boys’ hostel by Mogumber Training Centre [see entry] from 1972/73, then by Sister Kate’s until at least 1975 [see entry, Manguri].
A 1995 report (OHAC Cost Project, Department for Community Services, June 1995) shows that the Greenmount Hostel was handed over to the Department for Community Services on 31.08.1987 so the Methodist Overseas Mission, as predecessor agency to Sister Kate’s, must have formalised its intention to proceed with the initiative.
In 1975, Innaminka provided short term care for girls aged 5-17 years in a hostel-like setting. Innaminka had a garden and a trampoline. There were 4 bedrooms – all which could sleep three or more girls; a lounge room; dining room; 2 bathrooms and 2 toilets; a study; TV, piano; radio or radiogram, library and magazines were available. Girls took their lunch to school, to which they caught a bus. The average length of stay was around 9 months. Recreational activities included sporting clubs and socials. The building was described as being of brick construction and integrated into the community. (Department of Child Welfare Submission to the Committee of Enquiry into Residential Child Care, July 1976).
The WELSTAT (welfare statistics) Collection of 1979 notes “Greenmount” as a ‘scattered group home’ (ie. “a family group home whose grounds do not adjoin those of another family group home, or other residential child care establishment, operated by the same enterprise.”) that was operated by an agency other than the Department.
It appears from Departmental records that Greenmount was not being funded through the Consultative Committee on Residential Child Care in 1982.
Subsequently, the facility operated under a formal agreement with the Department of Community Welfare, providing for secondary school boys. Administered by Sister Kate's in 1985 until 1987/88, when the Department assumed responsibility.
In 1995, it was reported that the Greenmount Hostel had “not been used for a number of years” (OHAC Cost Project, Department for Community Services, June 1995).
Innaminka now forms part of the Department's Emergency Accommodation Service program and has housed Tudor Lodge and Bedford Hostel [see entries] at different times during renovations.
In addition to the entries mentioned above, the Methodist Church and Manguri (Sister Kate’s) have their own entries in Signposts, and these should be consulted as they give more information about the approach taken. |
| 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 Community Development’s Aboriginal Index and the guide, “Looking West”, should be consulted for information.
Information about the Methodist Overseas Mission and other records of children in Uniting Church facilities may be available. |
| 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
The Assembly Archivist, Uniting Church in Australia
PO Box A2266, Sydney South NSW 1235
Telephone: (02) 8267 4267
Facsimile: (02) 8267 4222
Email: enquiries@nat.uca.org.au
Web: www.nat.uca.org.au
or
Synod of Western Australia
UCA Archives Research Centre
1st Floor 10 Pier Street, Perth WA 6000
Telephone: (08) 9221 6911
Facsimile: (08) 9221 6863
Email: archiveswa@amnet.net.au |
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