findingrecords.dhhs.vic.gov.au

Sutton Grange Children’s Home (1957–77)

Summary

  • Title or Name: Sutton Grange Children’s Home (1957–77)
  • In 1957, the Children's Welfare Department established Sutton Grange Children’s Home in the grounds of the old Police College Building, at Mornington, to help relieve overcrowding at Turana. 
  • The home accommodated state wards in sibling groups. By 1962, there were 30 children, girls aged four to 17 and boys aged four to eight years. They attended local schools.
  • In September 1977, Sutton Grange closed.Auspice: Children’s Welfare Department

Sutton Grange Children's Home, history in brief

In 1957, the Children's Welfare Department established Sutton Grange Children’s Home in the grounds of the old Police College Building, at Mornington. The home accommodated state wards in sibling groups.

By 1962, there were 30 children, girls aged four to 17 and boys aged four to eight years. They attended local schools.

In September 1977, Sutton Grange closed.

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.

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.


Departmental children’s homes files (1962–77)

File; Permanent VPRS Number 18072 / P0001 (Open Consignment) and 18072 / P0002 (Closed Consignment)

Content: The files record interaction between the various departmental homes and the department. This filing system was created in 1975, combining earlier correspondence and other records to create one system with DH prefixes.

The specific file(s) relating to this home date to 1962–77 and include:

  • proposed constitution dated 25 September 1968
  • statistics 1976–77, including names of children, ward numbers, dates and details of movements
  • personnel matters including complaints against staff, 1962–77
  • progress report on children, including children’s names, ward numbers, dates of birth
  • holiday placements names and addresses dated 23 December 1968
  • Sutton Grange school lists, 1969.

Community Services Victoria (and predecessor departments) personnel files (c.1950s–88)

File; Temporary

Content: This series comprises the central employee filing system for the department.

These files chart each employee’s history including the following contents: employee's name, date commenced, positions held, leave details, position changes and promotions, salary increases and termination details. Some files include the employee's leave card as well as various employment history details. These records are arranged in alphabetical order by surname.

The files include staff working at the reception centres, training centres and children’s homes.

Reviewed 26 August 2016