Ashendene Boys Home was a former home for boys admitted to care of the Victorian Government in Australia. The centre operated between 1966 and 1988 and was initially managed by the Social Welfare Branch, later the Social Welfare Department, the Department of Community Welfare Services, and Community Services Victoria. Located in Olinda, Victoria, the centre accommodated boys aged from 10 to 15 years following a breakdown in home release, foster care or a children's home placement.[1]

Ashendene Boys Home
Map
LocationOlinda, Victoria
Coordinates37°50′33.22″S 145°22′10.62″E / 37.8425611°S 145.3696167°E / -37.8425611; 145.3696167
StatusClosed
Opened1966
ClosedNovember 1988[1]
Managed bySocial Welfare Branch, Social Welfare Department, later Community Services Victoria

History and facilities edit

The Victorian Government purchased the large former private home to house boys aged from 10 to 15 years, and address overcrowding at Allambie and Turana Reception Centres.

It was proposed by the Department that Ashendene be used in conjunction with Hillside Boys' Home in Glen Waverley with both institutions taking boys with a long history of institutional care and some offending behaviour. Unlike Hillside, boys at Ashendene were able to attend local schools. By 1977, Ashendene's main intake was from Baltara Reception Centre, older teenage boys requiring longer term accommodation. In 1978 the capacity of the Home was reduced to 24 as the building was considered to be overcrowded. In November 1988, Ashendene was relocated to a new facility in Croydon - a regional medium term residential unit for up to eight male and female adolescents.[1][2]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c O'Neill, Cate (28 October 2011). "Ashendene Boys' Home (1966 - 1988)". Find and Connect, Victoria. Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
  2. ^ "State Government Department children's homes and youth training centres in Victoria from 1940" (PDF). Finding Your Story:The Stolen Generations records. Government of Victoria. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 July 2008. Retrieved 9 September 2008.