| Brief History | On May 7, 1961 the inaugural meeting of the Kyarra Hostel Committee was held in the Cue Courthouse. Mr Lefroy was elected as the first Chairman.
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.
Kyarra had a “capacity of 66 boys and girls receiving primary education” when surveyed in 1971, when it was also noted that “some students advancing to secondary level have been accommodated at the Pallottine Training Centre, Riverton” [see entry]. At that time, Kyarra was owned and managed by the Department of Native Welfare. (Wilson and Robinson (1971) Aboriginal Hostels in Perth: A Comparative Survey).
In 1979, Kyarra catered for 46 children from Yarraquin Station; and the Geraldton, Meekatharra and Wiluna 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)
A cottage with staff quarters was planned to be built in 1981. (Annual Report of the Department for Community Welfare, 1980).
In 1982, responsibility for the country hostels transferred to the Field Services section of the Department. Kyarra was administered by the Murchison Division. (Annual Report of the Department for Community Welfare, June 30th 1982).
1984 saw “the demand for accommodation at Kyarra Hostel at Cue, dramatically decrease and currently there are moves to close this hostel down. This is an educational hostel for Aboriginal children whose parents are employed on Stations in the district. Due to the employment and pastoral situation there is limited employment available on stations, therefore the demand for hostel placements has been minimal.” (Annual Report of the Department for Community Welfare, June 30th 1984).
In another section of the Annual Report, it was reported that the Kyarra Hostel was in fact closed during the 1983/84 year. (Annual Report of the Department for Community Welfare, June 30th 1984).
In the 1986/87 year, ownership of Kyarra Hostel at Cue was formally transferred from the Department to the Aboriginal Lands Trust “for use by local Aboriginal groups.” (Annual Report of the Department for Community Services, June 30th 1987). |
| 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. |