Lyndon Lodge history in brief
In 1946, the Salvation Army established Lyndon Lodge by converting a large 40-year-old private residence in Auburn (named Talana) as a hostel for up to 30 boys, mostly state wards.
The Salvation Army's aim wasto house boys who had lived in a Salvation Army children and youth training home and wanted to remain in the city to learn a trade, undertake advanced training course, or accept work.
Boys aged between 14 and 18 years were referred by children's homes and assessed by the Salvation Army, which wanted to maintain Lyndon Lodge as place to helping boys who wanted to improve their situations and prospects, and not to provide accommodation to ‘irresponsible’ boys.
Boys at Lyndon Lodge paid 'maintenance' from their wages, retaining money for lunches, fares, clothing and pocket money. By 1973 the Salvation Army considered the building was not suitable as a hostel and reviewed options. One option was to sell the property and purchase elsewhere, the other to redesign and renovate.
Accommodation continued to be provided at Lyndon Lodge until the facility was ultimately relocated to Murrumbeena in 1987.
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.
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 1978–1980.
The specific file relating to Lyndon Lodge is dated from 1977–1978.
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