| Roelands Native Mission Farm |
| Years of Operation | From around the 1930s to 1975. |
| Role Of Facility | Residential child care for children from an Indigenous background. |
| Sponsoring Agency | In a contemporary overview recorded in 1971, Roelands was described as being “managed by the Council of Native Mission Farm Roelands (affliliated with the Missionary Fellowship [see Baptist Union for an outline of this group].” The Roelands Council also operated Valima Hostel in Narrogin [see entry]. Wilson and Robinson (1971) Aboriginal Hostels in Perth: A Comparative Survey.
As of 1 July 1973, Roelands was formally known as Roelands Homes Incorporated and a letter held from this organisation on Departmental files indicates it encompassed the Roelands Outreach and Cassette Ministry, the Roelands Convention Centre, the Bethel Christian Centre at 17 Doney Street Narrogin, and Wollaston Home [see entry] in Bunbury. Later in 1973, the Narrogin facility was no longer listed, but the letterhead included the Bethany Christian Centre at 10 Moira Road Collie and the Valima Girls Hostel in Perth [see entry].
In 1975, Roelands was offered to Churches of Christ Federal Aborigines Mission Board (CCFAMBI) who bought the property then and changed its name to Roelands Village. |
| Address(es) | Seven Hills Road, Roelands. |
| Aliases | Roelands Mission, Roelands Native Farm. |
| Brief History | In 1971, Roelands was described as catering for “80 students (some State Wards) attending school at Brunswick Junction and neighbouring schools.” Wilson and Robinson (1971) Aboriginal Hostels in Perth: A Comparative Survey.
The Annual Reports of the Department of Community Services record Mission Grants in Aid 1973 for a ‘teenage cottage’ and in 1974 for a new cottage.
The Annual Reports of the Child Welfare Department indicate the number of children who were “Native Wards” resident at Roelands at June 30th in the years 1965 to 1970. These were:
1965: 83 children; 1966: 86 children; 1967: 81 children; 1968: 75 children; 1969: 75 children; 1970: 73 children. |
| Records | Departmental records for children placed by the Department of Community Welfare or the Department of Native Welfare may exist.
Additionally, the Department for Child Protection’s Aboriginal Index and the 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. |
| Access | While access to records is restricted to protect the privacy of individuals, people are encouraged to enquire. |
| Contact Details | 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
For general information relating to missions:
State Records Office, Alexander Library Building
James St West Entrance
Perth WA 6000.
Search Centre: Ground Floor Mon-Fri:9.30am-4.30pm
Telephone: (08) 9427 3360
Facsimile: (08) 9427 3368
Email: sro@sro.wa.gov.au |
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