| Seaforth Salvation Army Boys’ Homes, Gosnells (General, Industrial and “Backward” Sections) |
| Years of Operation | 1901 - 1957 |
| Role Of Facility | Residential care of a range of boys, including boys with educational difficulties and boys who had been placed by the Courts. There were three sections at Seaforth – “general” (for boys who were in need of care outside the family), “backward” (for boys with intellectual or educational difficulties) and “industrial” sections. |
| Sponsoring Agency | Salvation Army |
Other facilities in
Signposts that are
related to the
Sponsoring Agency | See the entry “Salvation Army” in the earlier section of Signposts, “Non-Government Agencies and their Subsidiary Institutions” |
| Address(es) | 2498 Albany Hwy, Gosnells |
| Brief History | It is likely that boys from the general section at Seaforth were transferred to the Salvation Army Boys’ Home [see entry] at Nedlands in 1940, though by 1953 Seaforth reported that boys of primary age were in residence, being transferred to Nedlands when they were ready to go to high school.
While the “industrial” (or reformatory) section was listed in the Annual Reports of the Department until 1957, it is likely that it had closed by 1955.
In 1957, the Department’s Annual Report indicated that “A sum of £42,000 has been made available…to enable the Seaforth Home to cater for aged people.” The Salvation Army’s Historical Society reports that the 12 boys from the “backward” section who could not be successfully placed elsewhere remained at the aged care facility until the last man died in 1985.
Seaforth is now the Harry Hunter Rehabilitation Centre and few, if any, of the original buildings remain.
A limited chronology of the major events at Seaforth in each of its sections (General, Industrial and “Backward”), including admissions and discharges, is included in Tables 47 - 49. |
| Records | The Heritage Museum at the Salvation Army’s Divisional Headquarters has a range of information about Army practices and facilities and holds some photographs and various other pieces of information, including files from the years 1922-49 (for Salvation Army Seaforth Boys and Girls) and 1922-53 (for Salvation Army Gosnells Boys and Girls Home).
In its Melbourne office, the Salvation Army has a searchable database of “The War Cry” for the years 1889-1896; 1896-1907; and 1910 forward. The War Cry edition for the Southern Territories includes information about Western Australia.
The Battye Library in Perth holds a collection of photographs from the Seaforth Boys’ Home (call no. BA953, located in the 3rd floor pictorial library). The Library and Information Service of Western Australia holds a monograph by Helen Jenkins, entitled “The Seaforth Boys’ Home. Recollections of Senior Citizens”. The Accession Number for this monograph is Q820.8A[W]MAK.
Departmental case records for young people placed in Salvation Army programs by the Department may reside with the Department of Communities. |
| Access | While access to records is restricted to protect the privacy of individuals, people are encouraged to enquire. |
| Contact Details | Departmental Records:
Freedom of Information
Department of Communities
Locked Bag 5000, Fremantle WA 6959
Telephone: (08) 6414 3344
Country free call: 1800 176 888
Email: foi@communities.wa.gov.au
Website: www.communities.wa.gov.au
Salvation Army Museum:
The Salvation Army Historical Society,
333 William Street, Northbridge WA 6003
Telephone: (08) 9227 7010
Facsimilie: (08) 9227 7134
Salvation Army Records:
The Salvation Army
Territorial Headquarters, Southern Territory
(95 Railway Road, Blackburn)
PO Box 479, Blackburn VIC 3130
Web: www.salvationarmy.org.au
For people wishing to access the Battye Library’s photographic collection:
The State Library of Western Australia,
Alexander Library Building, State Cultural Centre, Perth WA 6000.
Telephone: (08) 9427 3111 (local) or 1800 198 107 (WA country callers)
Facsimilie: (08) 9427 3256 Email: info@liswa.wa.gov.au
Opening hours for the Battye Library at time of publication are:
Monday-Thursday 9am-8pm; Friday 9am-5:30pm;
Saturday/Sunday 10am-5:30pm |
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