Pleasant Creek Colony history in brief
In 1861, the Pleasant Creek Hospital opened as a medical facility for the population of Stawell and district. Another building was added in 1904, Syme Ward for convalescent patients.
In 1933, the facility was replaced by a newly-built hospital in the town of Stawell. In 1934, the Mental Hygiene Department acquired the old Pleasant Creek Hospital site and converted it to accommodate children with disabilities, which became Pleasant Creek Special School. The first residents (18 boys) were admitted in 1937 from Royal Park Depot.
At the end of 1937, there were 98 children living at Pleasant Creek. In 1968 the Pleasant Creek Special School was renamed Pleasant Creek Training Centre, caring for people with intellectual disabilities.
From the 1950s to the 1980s, there were several building developments:
- 1957, Lonsdale Unit expanded capacity to 113
- 1969, Bellfield and Fyans Units increased numbers to 196
- 1977, Alexandra Unit converted to recreational and lecture room facility.
- 1977, Day Centre, Nurses' Home and Clinical Services Administration buildings
- 1985, Nara Unit closed for renovations and residents moved to the previous staff living quarters.
During the 1980's, Pleasant Creek Training Centre housed up to 140 male and female residents, aged 10 to 45 with profound to mild levels of intellectual disability, in five residential units and four on-site houses. Services aimed towards community repatriation. The Centre provided respite care to residents from the local community and used generic services from recreational to medical.
In 1986, Pleasant Creek Training Centre had about 160 residents. In 1986, care of intellectually disabled persons was reallocated to the Community Welfare Services Department. The Intellectually Disabled Persons' Services Act 1986 abandoned the previous ‘medical model’ that defined disabilities as illnesses, for a ‘care model’ based on the philosophy that the disabled should not be ‘warehoused’ in institutions.
Each client now had to be given opportunities to realise his or her full potential. General and individual service plans were created to direct each person’s development.
In 1988, the report commissioned on Intellectual Disability Services recommended the dismantling of institutions for the disabled, to be replaced by smaller facilities. In particular, the report recommended that Pleasant Creek Training Centre be closed by 1993, which did not eventuate.
In 1990, an independent inquiry was ordered into allegations of sexual assault at Pleasant Creek Training Centre. In response to the “Jude Wallace Report” (as it was known), Community Services Victoria and Pleasant Creek Training Centre developed mechanisms which lead to:
- Improved systems for the reporting of incidents
- A workplace free from all forms of harassment
- A management structure which is responsible to client needs
- Improved standards of service delivery, and
- Consistent and standardised policy.
From 1990, Pleasant Creek Training Centre with about 156 staff provided residence, education and training facilities for 113 Intellectually Disabled people of varying ages from late teens to mid 50's. Occasionally, a younger person was accepted for short-term respite care.
In 1996, the Victorian government announced the impending closure of Pleasant Creek, in favour of 'community living' options for its residents. The facility closed in 1999.
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.
Patient information
PLEASE NOTE: Patients could be admitted to a Receiving House for short-term treatment and care, but were not permitted to remain longer than two months.
Patients still needing treatment after two months could be sent to a Psychiatric Hospital, in the same institution/complex or another. Hence, there could be more than one set of records for any one person. Please check each location for former patient records.
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
Pleasant Creek Centre Records Disposal Project Compiled by Martin Dodd and Haydn Blennerhassett, Archival Services, Department of Human Services, December 1997.
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Reviewed 29 August 2016