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Kurrawang Mission, Kalgoorlie
Years of Operation1951 – 1986
Address(es)Kurrawang is situated between Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie, around 480 kilometres east of Perth.
AliasesKurrawang Native Mission; Yamatji-Ngura Centre (1986); Kurrawang Aboriginal Christian Centre; Pukulari Cottage (1974 to around 1986) was noted as being sited at 288 Burt St and operated ‘under agreement’ for the Department for Community Welfare (see entry for Pukulari).
Brief HistoryKurrawang Mission was operated by the Brethren Church from 1951 or thereabouts (a plane crash in which all 8 occupants died was recorded as occurring on 15 October 1951 at Kurrawang Mission in Western Australia, which suggests the Mission was operating at that time). A Mission Grant in Aid was received in 1974 for a cottage home and generator.

“Kurrawang Mission, with the assistance of Departmental funding, have moved into two cottage homes within the town area. Hopefully this trend will continue thus enabling the children in their care to experience more interaction with the local community. Kurrawang are also considering the need to provide short term fostering of Aboriginal children for medical reasons” (Annual Report of the Department for Community Welfare, 1977).

“Kurrawang, in conjunction with liaison staff, have assessed and conferenced all children in care and plans have been drawn to cover future needs.” (Annual Report of the Department for Community Welfare, 1979).

The WELSTAT (welfare statistics) Collection of 1979 notes “Kurrawang Mission Cottage 1-3” as a ‘clustered group home’ (ie. “a family group home whose grounds 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.

A Grant-in-Aid was received in 1980 for carpet and linoleum; in 1981 for playground equipment, 2 swimming pool filters, a hotwater system and general repairs; in 1982 for renovations to the main centre, and, for the group home, concrete and flywire for the patio and equipment; in 1983 air conditioning and equipment for a scatter cottage; in 1984 for a diesel motor and electricity supply.
“Extremely valuable and greatly appreciated support continues to be received from private child care organisations such as Kurrawang Aboriginal Christian Centre.” (Annual Report of the Department for Community Welfare, June 30th 1982).

In 1984, it was reported that the Divisional Substitute Care Officer in the Department’s Kalgoorlie office continued “to promote and enhance the alternate care service and receives the co-operation of local foster parents and institutions such as the Kurrawang Aboriginal Christian Centre”. (Annual Report of the Department for Community Welfare, June 30th 1984).

Now an Indigenous Community, Kurrawang is not used by the Department as a placement service, but children may be placed with foster parents who live in that community.

The Aboriginal Independent Community Schools website (www.aics.wa.edu.au ) records:
“Established by the CAPS [Christian Aboriginal Parent-Directed School] Board on the site of the former Kurrawang Mission, now a Christian community located between Kalgoorlie and Coolgardie, the school caters for approximately 45 primary school age students. Secondary students travel by bus to the nearby Coolgardie campus of CAPS on a daily basis.”

A limited chronology of the number of children who were Wards of the Department living at Kurrawang is included in Table 21.
RecordsDepartmental records for children placed by the Department of Community Welfare or the Department of Native Welfare may exist.
Additionally, the Department for Child Protection and Family Support’s 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.
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

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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