Box Hill Boys' Home history in brief
In 1913, the Salvation Army established the Box Hill Boys Home to care for 'orphaned and neglected boys of young age' and children orphaned during the Great War.
By 1917, the home had 100 boys in three sections: Howard House (No. 1), Beulah (No. 2), and Hayville (No. 3). Later, the Edward Wilson Cottage (No. 4) was constructed for 30 boys.
In 1948, Beulah was demolished to make way for additional playground space, but the home still had capacity for about 150 boys.
A primary school conducted by the Education Department was attached to the home. Secondary students attended local schools.
By 1964, the Salvation Army develop scattered cottages for boys and girls rather than continue with its Box Hill, East Camberwell and East Kew congregate care facilities. The home continued to provide longer-term care for boys with difficulties around education.
In 1968, a proposal to erect six cottages, each for eight to 10 boys, was shelved after failing to receive a government subsidy for the rebuilding.
By 1970, capacity was down to 50–60.
By 1972, the home consisted of three cottages (including the new Buckland and Grosvenor Cottages facing Piedmont Street) each housing eight children (both sexes) and another unit housing 20 boys. The home was renamed Hayville.
In 1982, the Salvation Army moved resources from Hayville to the north-western suburbs to be incorporated into the Salvation Army's child care centre at Jacana.
The Box Hill site became an aged care facility, the Hayville Village.
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
- Guide to out-of-home care services 1940–2000: volume one – agency descriptions, compiled by James Jenkinson Consulting, North Melbourne, November 2001.
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.
Voluntary children’s homes files (c.1930-c.1985)
File; Permanent (VPRS Number 18069 / P0001)
Content: The files record interaction between the various voluntary homes and the government. This filing system was created in 1975, combining earlier correspondence and other records to create one system with VH prefixes.
The specific files relate to both Box Hill Boys Home (part of Hayville Archival File, file contents date from 1938–72 and Hayville Child Care Centre itself. The files’ overall contents date from 1938–84 and include:
- departmental correspondence, 1938–83
- boys being made wards of the state 1940
- planning of programs, facilities, services and relocation, 1938–84
- declaration as approved children’s home, 1955
- planning for Aboriginal siblings, 1972
- closure of Wilson House and transfer of wards, 1976
- on-site and external teaching and school attendance, 1955–84
- references to corporal punishment and other disciplinary measures, 1958–68
- references to incident allegations and investigation, 1964–70
- inspectors’ and other reports, 1958–70
- lists of children:
ofor holiday with Apex, Mildura, 1956
oattending external secondary schools, 1963
owith plans for future accommodation, 1978
ocurrently at Hayville, 1982
oremaining at Hayville and requiring relocation on its closure, 1983. - staffing issues including positions and changes, 1958–80
- staff and resident accommodation and resident numbers, 1958–78.
Staffing Priorities Committee, homes and hostels files (1976-83)
File; Temporary
Content: This accession comprised 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 Hayville Child Care Centre dates from 1977–78.
Note that this accession has had all permanent material removed.
Staffing Priorities Committee, Homes and Hostels, correspondence, guidelines for operation and minutes of meetings (1976-80)
File; Unappraised
Content: This accession is comprised of permanent material removed from the Staffing Priorities Committee, homes and hostels files. The material comprises 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.
Family Welfare Division funding and accounts files (1971-77)
File; Temporary
Content: These accounts and funding files are for individual children’s homes and are used to make allocations. They contain a monthly census giving names and dates of birth to calculate per capita expenses. There are annual reports of homes, income statements, reports on conditions of homes as assessed on visits.
The records are arranged in a broad chronological order.
The specific file(s) relating to Box Hill Boys Home Hayville date from 1971–75.
Reviewed 23 August 2016