Signposts
Katukutu Employment Hostel, Mt Lawley
Years of OperationThe name “Katukutu” stems from a private hostel established by Mr R McKeich in 1958, but the hostel itself dates from 1950.
Established in 1950 as Alvan House [see entry]. The Baptist Union [see entry] assumed control around 1958-1961 (documents are unclear on the exact date).
1973 –1979
Facility remains open in 2010 as a Parent Help Centre
Role Of FacilityResidential child care for school children and girls of working age in a hostel setting.
Sponsoring AgencyOriginally none, as the hostel was started as a private initiative by Mr R. McKeich (see history). Departmental - predessors to the current Department for Child Protection and Family Support / Baptist Union
Other facilities in
Signposts that are
related to the
Sponsoring Agency
See the entry “Baptist Union” in the earlier section of Signposts, “List of Facilities”
Address(es)28 Alvan Street, Mt Lawley
Brief HistoryEducation 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.

“In 1958, Mr. R. McKeich, a member of the Baptist Union, established a private hostel to accommodate Aboriginal working boys coming to Perth. This project (the original ‘KATAKUTU’) was undertaken by Mr McKeich on his own inititative.” Wilson and Robinson (1971) Aboriginal Hostels in Perth: A Comparative Survey.

“In 1959, Alvan House…after considerable administrative wrangling, [was] handed over to the Baptist Union... Policy…changed from accommodating students to accommodating working boys. Mr. and Mrs. McKeich… assumed control of Alvan House, which was renamed Katukutu. Wilson and Robinson (1971) Aboriginal Hostels in Perth: A Comparative Survey.

“Mr. and Mrs. R. McKeich began the original Katukutu in 1958 in a rented home consisting of seven bedrooms, lounge, a small kitchen bathroom and toilet on a quarter acre site. Because of increasing financial hardship and inadequate facilities, they abandoned their independent venture and assumed control of the former Alvan House in 1961. At that stage, Alvan House consisted of eight bedrooms, dining room, large kitchen, two toilets and two bedrooms for the houseparents. Later alterations increased the resident capacity to fourteen and created a small office.

McKeich’s stated policy was
‘…to assist assimilation by providing a “home” of sufficiently high quality, and by demanding standards of behaviour approaching those commonly accepted as “white”. (McKeich, 1961)’.

One of his co-workers elaborated that the hostel was intended to establish:
1. ‘High standards in health and hygiene; cleanliness and tidiness.
2. Courtesy and consideration of other people, notably staff and employers.
3. Particular respect for employers; regularity in going to work.
4. Regularity in church attendance.
5. Responsibility; sensible behaviour.
6. Co-operation.
7. Respect of property. (Cake, 1963:39).’

The fundamentalist Baptist approach in hostels…is further evidenced in Cake’s comments concerning the qualities desired of staff at Katukutu:
‘Persons must also have an interest in an evangelical church and should be committed to the Lord Jesus Christ. This latter characteristic is paramount since it is the belief of members of the Council that “the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour and example is an integral part of Katukutu”. No work of this kind is of real value, or offers an answer to Aboriginal needs unless it is founded upon and operates through faith in Jesus Christ. (Cake, 1963:44).’

The McKeich family continued to manage Katukutu until 1964, when the hostel was taken over by [another family who] spent a four year term at the hostel and their work was relieved temporarily by mission workers from Marribank [see entry] until the present [1971] houseparents…migrated from New South Wales specifically to manage Katukutu.

The original aim of the hostel (i.e. when it was transferred to the Baptist Union) has remained basically the same, although the present houseparents are said to adopt a more fundamentalist line.” Wilson and Robinson (1971) Aboriginal Hostels in Perth: A Comparative Survey.

Wilson and Robinson observed in 1971 that residents at Katukutu had to “attend a Baptist Church and although the houseparent claims that
‘we don’t take them to church to turn them into Baptists but to get them into an ordinary way of life’
there is little doubt that his conception of ‘…an ordinary way of life’ is synonymous with a Baptist way of life.” Wilson and Robinson (1971) Aboriginal Hostels in Perth: A Comparative Survey

In 1975, Katukutu provided short term care for up to 14 boys of working age in a hostel-like setting. Katakutu had a garden attached to the residence. There were 6 bedrooms – 4 doubles and 2 which could sleep three or more; a lounge room; dining room; 3 bathrooms and 3 toilets plus a staff toilet; a table tennis or pool table; TV, piano; radio or radiogram, library and magazines were available. Young men took their lunch to work, 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).

Facility operated under a formal agreement with the Department of Community Welfare, providing for boys in employment.

In 1982, the Katukutu Hostel was reported by the Consultative Committee into Residential Child Care as no longer receiving funding through them, so it is possible that the residential program closed during that year.

Currently (2010) a Departmental Parent Help Centre and no longer a residential facility.

The Baptist Union has its own entry in Signposts, and this should be consulted as it gives more information about the approach taken.
RecordsIt is unknown whether any other records are still in existence.
While the Department of Native Welfare placed some children in Baptist Union facilities, some placements may have been arranged privately.
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’s Aboriginal Index and the guide, “Looking West”, should be consulted for information.
AccessWhile access to records is restricted to protect the privacy of individuals, people are encouraged to enquire.
Contact DetailsFreedom 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

Baptist Union Records:
PO Box 57, Burswood WA 6100
Telephone: (08) 6313 6300
Email: admin@baptistwa.asn.au
Web: www.baptistwa.asn.au
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