Kinchela Aboriginal Boys' Training Home facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kinchela Aboriginal Boys' Training Home |
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Former school (from the east)
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| Location | 2054 South West Rocks Road, Kinchela, Kempsey Shire, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1924–1970 |
| Owner | Kempsey Local Aboriginal Land Council |
| Official name: Kinchela Aboriginal Boys' Training Home; Kinchela Boys' Home; Aboriginal Mission School; The Mission; | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 17 February 2012 |
| Reference no. | 1875 |
| Type | Historic site |
| Category | Aboriginal |
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The Kinchela Aboriginal Boys' Training Home is a historic site in Kinchela, New South Wales. It was a place where Aboriginal boys were sent, often against their will. The home operated from 1924 to 1970. It is also known as Kinchela Boys' Home or the Aboriginal Mission School. Today, the Kempsey Local Aboriginal Land Council owns the property. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 2012. The World Monuments Watch also recognized the site in 2022.
Contents
Kinchela Boys' Home: A Place of History
Why Were Aboriginal Children Taken?
For a long time, Aboriginal children were taken from their families. This started very early in Australia's history. The first Native Institution was set up in Parramatta in 1814. Another one opened in Blacktown in 1823. These places were not successful. Parents did not want their children to be kept away from home.
As more settlers arrived, there was conflict. The government began to control the lives of Aboriginal people. This control became very strict. In 1883, the Board for the Protection of Aborigines was created. Its goal was to help the sick and elderly. But it also aimed to train young Aboriginal people. The idea was to make them fit into white society.
This belief led to a policy of removing children. It was thought that Aboriginal people were not as smart. So, children were taken and taught "white ways." Girls were trained to be domestic servants. Boys were trained for manual labor.
Laws That Separated Families
The Aborigines Protection Board wanted more power. They wanted to control Aboriginal children's education and lives. New laws were made in 1909, 1915, and 1918. These laws gave the Board the right to take children. They did not need a court hearing anymore. They could remove a child if they thought it was "in the interest of the moral or physical welfare" of the child.
The 1920s and 1930s were hard times. Many Aboriginal people lived in poor conditions. This made it easy for the government to claim neglect. So, more Aboriginal children were removed. In 1937, an "assimilation policy" was formed. This policy aimed to make Aboriginal people blend into white society. It was believed that "full-blood" Aboriginal people would soon disappear. "Half-caste" people were to be absorbed.
The Aborigines Protection Board was replaced in 1940. It became the Aborigines Welfare Board. Aboriginal children were still sent to places like Kinchela. They were also sent to Cootamundra and Bomaderry.
In the 1960s, new ideas about child care emerged. Experts realized children need strong bonds with caregivers. Fostering children with non-Aboriginal families became more common. This was part of the assimilation policy.
A big change happened in 1967. A referendum changed the Australian constitution. This brought positive changes for Aboriginal people. The Aborigines Welfare Board was finally closed in 1969.
The Kinchela Boys' Home Story
The Kinchela Aboriginal Reserve was set up in 1883. Dormitories were added in 1924. These were for boys transferred from Singleton Aboriginal Boys' Home. They were also for daughters of Aboriginal people who lived far from schools.
The Kinchela village was a busy place. But Aboriginal people were kept separate. The local community even stopped the boys from the Home from attending the local school.
The Singleton Boys' Home was the first of its kind. It opened in 1918. It housed boys removed from their families. They were trained for manual or farm work. They became "wards of the state" until they were 18. This meant the government controlled their lives. In 1924, the Singleton Home closed. The boys moved to Kinchela.
Kinchela Aboriginal Boys' Training Home opened in 1924. It had the same purpose. Boys aged 5 to 15 were taken from their families. They were sent to Kinchela. Younger boys went to Bomaderry first. Once removed, they were wards of the state until they were 18.
From the 1920s to the 1940s, Kinchela was known as a very harsh place. Former residents remember loneliness, fear, and physical hardship. They also recall abuse. Staff were not trained. Boys were often called by numbers, not names. Beatings were common. Investigations in the 1940s led to some staff being fired.
Aboriginal culture was banned at the home. Boys were not allowed to speak their own languages. They could go to the local show. But they could not speak with other Aboriginal people there.
The school at Kinchela was part of the Home. Until 1941, the teachers were not trained. So, the education was very poor. The boys could not attend the local Kinchela School. White parents voted against it. In the 1960s, this changed. A new school was built in 1941. Trained teachers were hired. Boys could then attend high school in Kempsey.
The Home was on 32 acres of land. It was next to the Macleay River. It had dormitories, a dining room, and a recreation room. There were also gardens and a swimming pool. The boys grew vegetables and raised dairy cows. They also played sports. They were known for swimming, football, boxing, and surf lifesaving.
The Home often flooded because it was near the river. When it flooded, the boys moved to South West Rocks. They stayed in former school buildings there.
The 1967 Referendum led to big changes. The Aborigines Welfare Board was closed. The Kinchela Aboriginal Boys' Training Home closed in 1970. The Aboriginal community fought to take control of the site. Thanks to strong Aboriginal voices, the government agreed. The former home was given to Aboriginal ownership.
The Kinchela Home holds many difficult memories. In 2002, a reunion was held there. Former residents shared their stories. They spoke of the pain and damage caused by their time at the home. The Deputy Premier of New South Wales apologized to them for what they had suffered.
What Kinchela Looks Like Today
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The former Kinchela Aboriginal Boys' Training Home is about 16 miles from Kempsey. It sits on two pieces of land. The smaller part is next to the Macleay River. This is where the main buildings were. These included dormitories, staff housing, and the school.
The other, larger piece of land was for farming. It had vegetable gardens and sheds for animals. There are still large trees there, like Ficus and Bunya Pines.
The property is low and often floods. In 2011, the farm land was under water. The property was cut off for six days.
The first dormitories were "tin sheds" built in 1924. These were replaced in 1935. The new school building was long and rectangular. It had a corrugated steel roof. An "all weather shed" was used for recreation in bad weather. This room is now enclosed.
The main home building was shaped like a U. The recreation hall and dining rooms were in one wing. The big boys' dormitory was in the middle. The small boys' dormitory was in the other wing. The center of the U was for assembly. Boys would march from there to the school building. Kitchens were behind the main building.
Some buildings have been demolished. These include a laundry and the manager's house. There was also an orchard in front. Boys were not allowed in this area.
Two staff houses still stand at the northern end. A football field and swimming pool were between these houses and the school. Other small buildings housed a milk separator and a wood shed. The wood shed was also used as a punishment room.
Benelong Haven took over the property in 1976. The buildings were renovated in 1988. They were re-covered, re-roofed, and updated. A veranda was added to connect the main buildings. This helped during floods. New offices and housing were also built. The swimming pool has been filled in.
The buildings were in good condition in 2011. The overall layout is still there. But the buildings have been changed for new uses.
Why Kinchela is a Heritage Site
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The former Kinchela Aboriginal Boys' Training Home is very important. It shows us the past government policy of taking Aboriginal children from their families. This policy aimed to make them forget their culture. It forced them to live like white Australians.
Kinchela became known for cruelty, abuse, and hardship. This caused lasting health problems for former residents. It also led to cultural loss within the Aboriginal community. The site is now a place for remembering and healing. It helps people reconnect with their past.
The Home shows the "assimilation" policy. This policy believed that Aboriginal people would eventually die out. Or, they would be absorbed into white society. Kinchela trained Aboriginal boys to be farm workers. This shows the old idea that Aboriginal people were less intelligent. It was thought they were only fit to be servants.
Kinchela is a rare example of an Aboriginal Boys' Home in New South Wales. It was the longest-running facility for boys. It helps us understand how Aboriginal children were housed and trained in the early 1900s.
Kinchela's Historical Significance
Kinchela Aboriginal Boys' Training Home is important for showing the history of New South Wales. It provides clear proof of past government policies. These policies controlled the lives of Aboriginal people for many years. The Home shows how the Aborigines Protection Board acted like a parent to Aboriginal people.
The Home also shows the assimilation policy in action. This policy aimed to empty Aboriginal Reserves. It forced Aboriginal people to live like the rest of society. Children were removed from their families and culture. They were given skills, but often only for manual jobs.
The Home demonstrates the old idea that Aboriginal people were less capable. This idea was common in the 19th and 20th centuries. It also shows how mainstream Australian society denied Aboriginal culture. This only began to change around the 1967 Referendum.
Connections to People and Groups
The Kinchela Home is directly linked to the Aborigines Protection Board. It is also connected to the Aborigines Welfare Board.
Many boys sent to Kinchela had sisters sent to Cootamundra Aboriginal Girls' Training Home. Babies and young children often went to Bomaderry Children's Home before Kinchela.
The Home is part of the story of the "Stolen Generations." This was the subject of a National Inquiry in 1997. This inquiry showed how widespread the practice of removing children was. It affected every Aboriginal community.
The Home is associated with important individuals like Burnam Burnam (Harry Penrith). It is also linked to Link-Up. This group helps former residents and families reunite.
The Home is connected to the National Apology to the Stolen Generations. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd gave this apology in Parliament in 2008.
Social and Cultural Importance
Kinchela Aboriginal Boys' Training Home has deep social meaning. It is important for former residents and their families. The place is linked to stories of great sadness and cultural loss. It has also caused ongoing health problems for some past residents.
The buildings offer a real link to the past for former residents. Visiting the site brings back memories, both painful and healing. Some former residents find peace when they return. Others never want to go back.
Kinchela shows modern Australia the practice of removing Aboriginal children. This practice affected every Aboriginal Australian. But many mainstream Australians did not know about it until the 1997 Inquiry. The Home helps us understand the pain caused by past assimilation practices.
The Home is also part of the public debate about the "Stolen Generations." This debate was strong after the 1997 Inquiry. There was much discussion about whether there should be a public apology. In 2008, the Prime Minister gave that apology.
The policies of assimilation and child removal still affect Aboriginal communities today. They have created cultural differences. This is because some Aboriginal people were raised in non-Aboriginal families or institutions.
Learning from the Past
The buildings at Kinchela Aboriginal Boys' Training Home provide clues. They show us what conditions were like in children's homes from 1924 to the 1970s. The original buildings and stories from former residents help us understand daily life there. They show how Aboriginal children were raised as wards of the State. Many oral histories describe the daily routines at the Home.
The way the buildings were used shows practices from the early 1900s. Children were placed in dormitories, separated by age.
Unique Aspects of Kinchela
The Kinchela Aboriginal Boys' Training Home is the only surviving Aboriginal boys' training home in New South Wales. It was also the longest-running training facility for boys. This makes it very rare. It is the only remaining physical proof of the assimilation policies. These policies forced Aboriginal boys into institutions and trained them as laborers in NSW.
A Representative Example
The former Home represents a widespread government practice. It shows the systemic assimilation of Aboriginal people during the 20th century.
