Brophy Memorial Home history in brief
In 1972, the Warrnambool Home for Boys was established in Kepler Street, Warrnambool, to accommodate local boys who were unable to live at home and to prevent them from being sent to orphanages in Geelong or Ballarat. The Kepler Street property usually housed about 17 boys and young men aged from 13 to 17 years.
In 1973, the home moved to Ardlie Street, Warrnambool. In 1974, when Father Brophy died, the home started to wind down until, in 1976, Bob Myers and a committee established the Brophy Memorial Home in Dalton Street, Warrnambool. From 1978, young women were also accepted.
In 1982, Brophy Memorial Home was incorporated as Brophy Memorial Hostel. By 1992, the Hostel comprised accommodation for eight, a two-bedroom unit and the Community Adolescent Placement Service (CAPS). CAPS provided for young people experiencing difficulties at home to spend time away with a local host family and still continue their schooling and maintain friendships.
In 1992, Brophy Family and Youth Services was created to provide a range of services for young people and families in the Portland, Hamilton and Warrnambool regions, services that continue today (2016).
In 1994, the Brophy Memorial Hostel closed.
Warning about distressing information
This guide contains information that some people may find distressing. If you experienced abuse as a child or young person in an institution mentioned in this guide, it may be a difficult reading experience.Guides may also contain references to previous views, policies and practices that are regrettable and do not reflect the current views, policies or practices of the department or the State of Victoria. If you find this content distressing, please consult with a support person either from the Department of Health and Human Services or another agency.
Disclaimer
Please note that the content of this administrative history is provided for general information only and does not purport to be comprehensive. The department does not guarantee the accuracy of this administrative history. For more information on the history of child welfare in Australia, see Find & .
Source
FIND & CONNECT, History and information about Australian orphanages, children’s homes and other institutions, website address: www.findandconnect.gov.au
List of records held by the department
For information relating to the central management of care leavers and wards of state, please consult the guide to Central department wardship and out-of-home care records. These collections date back to the 1860s and include ward registers, index cards and ward files.
Staffing Priorities Committee, homes and hostels files (1976–83)
File; Temporary
Content: This collection comprises files documenting the recommendations for staffing positions for homes and hostels, correspondence between the Minister of Community Welfare Services and senior officers as well as funding information. The Staffing Priorities Committee made recommendations to the minister regarding priority of staffing positions required.
Individual homes and hostels are listed accompanied by comprehensive material concerning each home, family group home or hostel.
There are also minutes from the approved children's homes and hostels meetings from 1978–80.
The specific file relating to the Brophy Memorial Boys’ Home is dated from 1977–78.
Note that these records have had all permanent material removed and placed into the collection listed below.
Staffing Priorities Committee, homes and hostels, correspondence, guidelines for operation and minutes of meetings (1976–80)
File; Unappraised
Content: This collection contains the permanent material removed from the collection listed above. These records comprise ministerial correspondence, and Staffing Priority Committee minutes and list of members.
The Staffing Priorities Committee made recommendations to the minister regarding priority of staffing positions required.
Reviewed 10 August 2016