| Rangevue Hostel |
| Years of Operation | From January 1969 for an unknown period. |
| Role Of Facility | Student Hostel |
| Sponsoring Agency | Presbyterian Church |
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) | Mt Lawley |
| Brief History | Rangevue commenced operations as a hostel following the injection of funds for such accommodation that arose from the Constitutional amendments of 1967. 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.
“In 1969, after what one church official described as a period when ‘…the property was available, then not available, etcetera, etcetera’, the Presbyterian Church [see entry] acquired the present Rangevue Hostel under a Grant-in-aid of $32,000 from the Department [of Native Welfare – the grant went through in 1968]. The motives of the Church are not as clear as those of some other groups involved in hostel work. At the risk of being simplistic, it appears that the primary object is to provide a sphere of activity of some kind to fill the gap created by lessening involvement in [residential] child care work generally. The accent is on providing a tangible christian service. It would appear that the Church has a nucleus of members who wish to become involved in voluntary work as a service to the Church, and that Rangevue offers this opportunity for charitable service.
Originally it was intended that Rangevue should cater for both boys and girls, but apart from one instance of a boy being there for a short time, it has remained a girls’ hostel, catering mostly for students attending Mount Lawley High School and a few business college girls. The first residents moved in during January, 1969 and the hostel was officially opened by the Minister [for Native Welfare] in June 1969.
The original houseparents, Mr. and Mrs. Kerr, gave up the work at the end of 1970, and their place has been taken by Mr. and Mrs. Peacock.” Wilson and Robinson (1971) Aboriginal Hostels in Perth: A Comparative Survey
The Presbyterian Church has its own entry in Signposts, and this should be consulted as it gives 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 Child Protection’s Aboriginal Index and the guide, “Looking West”, should be consulted for information.
Departmental case records for young people placed in Presbyterian programs by the Child Welfare Department may reside with the Department for Child Protection.
Information for young people who were resident in Presbyterian facilities may be held by Uniting Church Archives.
While the Department of Native Welfare placed some children in Presbyterian facilities, some placements may have been arranged privately. |
| Access | While access to records is restricted to protect the privacy of individuals, people are encouraged to enquire. |
| Contact Details | 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
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 |
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