Overton Residential Nursery (1962–74)

Overton Residential Nursery history in brief

In 1962, the Bendigo Crèche Committee established Overton Residential Nursery. Overton was approved as a subsidised residential nursery and approved children’s home. It took children under five years under the infant life protection provisions.

It had capacity for 17, which rose to about 30 by late 1973. Overton closed in January 1974.

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 & Connect.

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 / P0002

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 file relating to the Overton Residential Nursery dates from 1962–74 and includes:

• correspondence proposing opening a reception centre in Bendigo and improvements to be made before the department sends wards there, 1962
• inspector’s report identifying unsatisfactory arrangements for the children’s medical care (they do not have an honorary doctor but have to go the base hospital), 1964
• application for registration as an approved children’s home, 1964
• correspondence regarding the need for places for wards, 1964
• correspondence in which the institution is told not to provide day care, which had been a source of revenue. They reply that they will need more support from the department, 1964
• correspondence mentioning staff and quality of care concerns, 1966
• report on children, 1966
• report on parents wishing to adopt a child, 1969
• annual reports, c.1960s
• closure of the nursery, some news clippings and correspondence, 1974.

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 this home date from 1972-73.