Sister Kate's Children's Home (fmr)

Child Places

• 04607 The Chapel of the Guardian Angel

Statement of Significance

Sister Kate's Childrens Home is of State and local significance representing the
work of Sister Kate and her assistants and supporters in the care of Aboriginal and part-Aboriginal children from the turn of the century. The Queens Park home is significant as a remarkable achievement of Sister Kate during the later years of her life.

Sister Kate's home, now Manguri, is of historic and social significance to the
development of Western Australia for its continuing role in providing community
services for Aboriginal people.

It is of particular significance to those members of the community that grew up
there which has included some well known Western Australian citizens, for example footballer Graham 'Polly' Farmer.

History

Sister Kate's Childrens Home was established by Katherine Mary Clutterbuck
(Sister Kate) in Queens Park in 1934. The home provided cottage style
accommodation for children of part Aboriginal descent.

Sister Kate was born in Wiltshire, England in 1860 and joined the Kilburn Sisters (Church of England sisterhood) who ran an orphanage in London in 1883. In 1901 she came to Australia with four other sisters and twenty-two orphans and in 1903 founded the Parkerville Childrens Home. Sister Kate's home in Queens Park was founded after Sister Kate retired from Parkerville at the age of seventy-two. In 1934 Sister Kate was awarded the OBE in recognition of her work with children. Sister Kate died in 1946.(Maloney 1964)

In 1934 accommodation at Queens Park consisted of a six roomed cottage named
Myola. A second cottage known as Nursery Cottage was constructed in 1935.
Both have since been demolished. In 1936/7 a Corrigan farmer donated land and
money to build a hospital and the chapel and the Virgillians led by Mary Durack
planted an avenue of pines and landscaped the crescent shaped road known as
Virgillian Avenue. The kindergarten was built in 1938. A number of cottages have
been constructed on the site over the years some of which have subsequently been
demolished. One of those remaining is Memorial Cottage built in 1948 in memory
of Miss Lefroy, one of Sister Kate's dedicated assistants.(Maloney 1964)

In 1956 the home was taken over by the Presbyterian Church. A number of
cottages were built during the 1960s and in 1964 the home comprised six cottages
occupied by seventy-two children. (Maloney 1964)

In 1972/3 two new cottages were constructed to an unusual circular design. These
cottages were named Myola (after the first cottage on the site) and Elouera and
opened in 1972 and 1973 respectively.

The site is currently occupied by the Uniting Church Aboriginal child care agency Manguri and the chapel is used by the Aboriginal Evangelical Fellowship of
Australia.

Integrity/Authenticity

Chapel- 1937
Alterations: No
Intactness of fabric: Internal and external fabric intact. The building also
contains original furniture and fittings and items relating to the development and history of the home.
Comdition: Good

Kindergarten-1939
Alterations: The building has been extended.
Condition: Good

Memorial Cottage-1948
Alterations: Fibro. infill to verandahs.
Intactness of fabric: Fair
Condition: Good

Myola & Elouera-1972/3
Alterations: No
Intactness of fabric: Good
Condition: Good

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Disclaimer

This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.