Inside the gates | National Museum of Australia

It felt as though I had landed on the dark side of the moon.

Going through the gates into a children’s home in 20th century Australia was, for good or bad, entering a different world.

Some of those who lived inside the gates as children remember what that world was like.

Exhibition graphic panel that reads: 'When I arrived at Clontarf, I immediately felt that this was a dark place ... it felt as though I had landed like on the dark side of the moon', attributed to 'Godfrey Gilmour, Clontarf Boys Home, Waterford, Western Australia, 1950s'. - click to view larger image

Black and white photo showing a room with wooden lockers lining the walls and two sets of long wooden benches at the centre. A boy in school uniform sits with his back to the camera, tying a shoelace, another boy leans into a locker and, at the far end of the room, a third boy leans over a sink. - click to view larger image

Exhibition graphic panel that reads: 'You had to get out of bed, line up. Open the door, line up with toothbrush. A grey locker, I had one dress and a school dress. Line up to go to the toilet, clean your teeth, get your uniform on, line up for breakfast, line up out of breakfast. Out the back of the kitchen, way down the yard, the school. Line up, line up. Set times for TV, meals, then go to bed', attributed to 'Chrystal Lennox, Bidura Receiving Depot, Glebe, New South Wales, 1960s, 'Orphans of the Living', by Joanna Penglase, 2005'. - click to view larger image

Colour photograph showing five rows of young girls lined up outside a brick building. The girls wear red jumpers over blue skirts with a horizontal white line above the knee. Each girl wears white shoes and socks and a blue ribbon in her hair. - click to view larger image

Exhibition graphic panel that reads: 'Circa 1953, I was charged a ward of the state, and remained so until 1970 ... Between these benchmarks, I lived a life outside the normal experience of the average Australians, male or female' attributed to 'Peter Brownbill, 'Orphans of the Living', by Joanna Penglase, 2005'. - click to view larger image

Exhibition graphic panel that reads: 'Meal bells, sleep bells, wake bells', attributed to 'Gordon Briscoe, St Francis House, Port Adelaide, South Australia, 1940s'. - click to view larger image

A colour photo of large metal hand bell with a wooden handle. - click to view larger image

Exhibition graphic panel that reads: 'There were 500 kids in Neerkol and only about a dozen nuns. It was knowingly under-resourced. Even Jesus Christ would have lost his temper with 500 kids', attributed to 'Allan Allaway, St Joseph’s Home, Neerkol, Queensland, 1950s'. - click to view larger image

A Polaroid image showing a group of men and children gathered on the steps of a brick building. 'Far West Children's Home, Manly, New South Wales, 1933-34' is printed underneath the photo. 'State Library of New South Wales' is printed vertically on the left border. - click to view larger image

Exhibition graphic panel that reads: 'We did create some sort of brotherhood', attributed to 'Ron, Box Hill Boys’ Home, Box Hill, Victoria, 1960s'. - click to view larger image

A wooden board painted a cream colour with a gold border. Painted text at the top reads 'THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND / BOYS' HOME / INCORPORATED / HONOUR ROLL / 1939-1945'. Two rows of 18 names are listed on the board. - click to view larger image

Exhibition graphic panel of black handwritten text, in capitals, on a white background reads 'Oh Gaylis what became of you when the place closed and the nuns fled? Slaving was all you knew', attributed to 'Rachael Romero, The Pines, Good Shepherd Convent, Plympton, South Australia, 1960s'. At right is a sketch showing side view of a woman wearing an apron, who walks with her left arm extended. - click to view larger image

A close-up colour photo of a metal safety pin. - click to view larger image

Exhibition graphic panel that reads: 'Everyone wore identical clothing, so that trying to find my sister in a crowd of children was almost an impossible task', attributed to 'Patricia Slatterie and Jeannette Blick, Orana Methodist Home, Burwood, Victoria, 1960s'. - click to view larger image

Black and white photo showing a group of about 50 children, sitting and kneeling on grass, with a wooden homestead in the background. The young girls wear striped dresses and the boys wear dark tops. Most of the children are smiling. - click to view larger image

Exhibition graphic panel that reads: 'Once a staff member had to go and buy me some shoes because nobody had donated shoes my size', attributed to 'Jenny Bosanquet, St Luke’s Home, Bendigo, Victoria, 1970s'. - click to view larger image

A woman presses her hands against a glass case displaying a child's dark green school tunic. - click to view larger image

Exhibition graphic panel that reads: 'IF YOU WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET A PAIR OF UNDIES THAT FITTED YOU THOUGHT ALL YOUR CHRISTMASES HAS COME AT ONCE,' attributed to 'Christine Lang, UPA Home, Rathgar, New South Wales', about 1960s, 'Orphans of the Living', by Joanna Penglas, 2005. - click to view larger image

Black and white image showing a large white-walled room with a concrete floor. A row of six sinks lines the left wall and a row of partitions and doors lines the right. - click to view larger image

Exhibition graphic panel that reads: 'I had a towel. It was number 11', attributed to 'Colleen Stevenson, St Joseph's Home, Neerkol, Queensland, 1960s'. - click to view larger image

Photograph of a red, white and blue striped towel set in a silver coloured frame. The towel has 'BOX HILL BOY'S HOME' printed in red capitals at the centre. A small plaque, bottom centre of the frame, reads: 'In Memory of Ken Carter / 29th April 1945 - 19th April 2008 / Ken was in Turana & Box Hill Boys Home 1945-1962'. - click to view larger image

Image showing a long corridor, with a sink and towels on the left, several doorways in the centre and an open door at the far end. - click to view larger image

A colour photo of a framed sign which reads 'Visitors are requested not to touch the babies'. - click to view larger image

Exhibition graphic panel that reads: 'It’s Sunday the bell rings, we all take our positions on our lines … It’s visitors today at 10 am — hey give it a blast so they can read out the visitors list ... Yeah well after forever my name was read out and I ran up to be showered and put on the suit that we all had to wear from that huge cupboard of suits, the long wait out the front sitting on the bench outside the superintendent’s office, me feet could not reach the floor so I’d swing em back and forward just looking out the closed 6 foot gate. A long time I sat there like that till the super came out and said I’m sorry Garry your visitor is not coming today … Ha who wants a visitor. I know I got a mum and dad and one day they come get me', attributed to 'Garry Shooks, Royleston Boys Home, Glebe, New South Wales, 1960s'. - click to view larger image

A black and white Polaroid photograph of three young children, two girls and a boy, sitting on a wooden swing. There is a building in the background and the children are smiling at the camera. Typewritten text underneath reads 'Paul Howlett visiting his sisters Carmel and Bernadette at Goodwood Orphanage, Goodwood, South Australia; the vistors' shelter is in the background, about 1950.' Smaller text, on the left-hand side of the image, in a vertical direction, reads 'State Library of South Australia'. - click to view larger image

A black and white Polaroid photograph of a man with two little girls. The man is crouched down to be at the same level as the girls and all are smiling at the camera. Typewritten text underneath reads 'Barbara (left) from St Mary's Mission of Hope Children's Home, Adelaide, on a weekend stay with the Chynoweth family, photographed with Don Chynoweth and his daughter Adele. 1963'. Smaller text, on the left-hand side of the image, in a vertical direction, reads 'Courtesy Adele Chynoweth'. - click to view larger image

Copy of a formal letter from 'A Richmond /THE FAIRBRIDGE SOCIETY OF TASMANIA / FAIRBRIDGE HOUSE

Copy of a typed letter to 'Mr Richmond, c/o Police Department, Cameron Street, Launceston, Tasmania' outling the writer's 'terrible shock' at the news of only being able to see her son once a month, after being told she should be able to see him once a week. - click to view larger image

Exhibition graphic panel that reads: 'My sister and I could not see our brother as he was in a different area. I would try to go into the playground … so I could see him as I missed him. I would get told off for doing so (I was 6) and I felt angry and upset that I couldn’t see him', attributed to ‘Teresa, Victoria, 1970s'. - click to view larger image

Colour photograph showing four small children sitting on bean bags. A fifth is partially visible at right. The child in the foreground holds a soft toy. Toys and books sit atop cupboards and above a fireplace at the rear. - click to view larger image

A black and white Polaroid photograph of two small children in a metal cot. The children are standing facing the camera and holding the raised side rail. One of them is holding a large doll. There is a man standing in the background who is looking towards the children. Typewritten text underneath reads 'Toddlers at Far West Children's Home. Manly. New South Wales. 1933-34'. Smaller text, on the left-hand side of the image, in a vertical direction, reads 'State Library of New South Wales'. - click to view larger image

Exhibition graphic panel that reads: 'Where’s my sister? / She’s gone to heaven. / I want to go there too’ attributed to 'Lana Syed, talking with one of the nuns, St Vincent’s Orphanage, Nudgee, Queensland, 1950s'. - click to view larger image

A white canvas art board with a black ink sketch of a child sleeping in a bed. Words and other images surround the central sleeping figure. 'FOOD / How old am I? / HELL / LENA, LENA / HEAVEN / AMEN' is written in black pen. Flames, a falling girl and a hand holding rosary beads are also sketched. 'LSW ALi' is the artist's mark in the bottom right. - click to view larger image

Five babushka dolls, arranged from smallest to largest from the left. Far left shows a small girl in a red top with white collar. Second from left shows an older girl wearing a white top and black pants. The third doll has short hair and glasses and 'LENA' handpainted on the chest. The fourth doll shows a woman wearing a red dress with white collar and hat, and the fifth shows a woman wearing a green shirt and red scarf. Gold glitter has been used to decorate the dolls. - click to view larger image

Exhibition graphic panel that reads: 'Me and Lilly did this because we felt we had become sisters in horror. Lilly had been taken from her mother to a mission, then The Pines. She didn’t remember where she was from. I didn’t want to be from where I remembered’ attributed to 'Rachael Romero, The Pines, Convent of the Good Shepherd, Plympton, South Australia, 1960s'. - click to view larger image

Photo of a watercolour painting depictings two girls, with extended arms, joined by blood. White handwriting at the top reads: 'Convent of the Good Shepherd, South Australia'. 'Blood Sisters / in the/ Magdalene / Laundry / The Pines / 1968 / Rachael and Lillie' is written between the girls. - click to view larger image

Polaroid featuring a group of boys each standing next to and holding the bridles of calves. - click to view larger image

Exhibition graphic panel that reads: 'That calf was like a dog — it followed me everywhere. Those animals gave us the comfort — they gave us what the Brothers should have given us. If we didn’t have the animals I don’t know what would have happened to me', attributed to 'Anthony Brennan, Clontarf Boys Town, Waterford, Western Australia, 1950s'. - click to view larger image

Colour photograph showing a man talking with a woman beside an exhbition graphic panel. The panel includes a large print of a boy standing with a cow. - click to view larger image

Exhibition graphic panel that reads: 'This apron was given to me by a beautiful light in my life — Sister Judith Kelly. It was one of the most beautiful gifts I’ve ever had. I used to wear it all the time. I used to call it ‘My Ireland’. Sister Judith was like my mother and my sister. I wish to share this light with all of Australia', attributed to 'Mary Brownlee, St Joseph’s Home, Kincumber, New South Wales, 1960s'. - click to view larger image

Child's apron in a silk fabric printed with a map of Ireland and sketched scenes of Irish landmarks and landscapes. - click to view larger image

Photograph of Mary Brownlee and her siblings, with Sister Judith Kelly, at St Joseph's Home, Kincumber, New South Wales. The photograph was taken by Mary's father, who used to visit every Sunday, 1969. - click to view larger image

Exhibition graphic panel that reads: 'It was a safe place for me. [Before that] I was in Wilson [Youth Hospital] ... Kedron Lodge was my first happy place', attributed to 'Maria Monaghan, Kedron Lodge, Kalinga, Queensland, 1970s'. - click to view larger image

Exhibition graphic panel that reads: 'They locked me up in Wilson, But now I have the key, For one man fought on my behalf: His name is Wally D.', attributed to 'Barbara Lane, Kedron Lodge, Kalinga, Queensland, 1970s'. - click to view larger image

Polaroid image showing a man sitting at a desk, across from a person with long blonde hair, whose back is to the camera. A poster on the wall behind reads 'PROBLEMS AT HOME! SCHOOL HASSLES. YOU, THE COURTS, ME. Youth Advocacy Centre'. Typed text below reads 'Reverend Wally Dethlefs at the Youth Advocacy Centre, Brisbane, 1983, which operated from 1981 to 1989'. - click to view larger image

Exhibition graphic panel that reads: 'I think I was converted six million times — was saved. That entailed another piece of cake on Sunday!', attributed to 'Joy Williams, Lutanda Home, Wentworth Falls, New South Wales, 1950s / The Lost Children, edited by Coral Edwards and Peter Read, 1989'. - click to view larger image

Top view of a tambourine, showing five sets of cymbals around the side. - click to view larger image

Exhibition graphic panel that reads: 'I just want someone to know, there was a good' home and I was lucky enough to be in it', attributed to 'Lucy Bartholomew, Home of the Good Shepherd, Michelton, Queensland, 1950s'. - click to view larger image

Exhibition graphic panel that reads: 'Intermittent humanity was provided', attributed to 'Gordon Briscoe, St Francis House, Port Adelaide, South Australia, 1950s'. - click to view larger image

Cream fabric banner mounted on a black wooden pole with fleur de lys ends. The banner has burnt edges and has the words 'Appendix 6 / List of Homes & other Institutions / Referred to by Care Leavers in Submissions' written across the top in black marker pen. Hundreds of homes and institutions are listed below in four columns. A pie chart bottom right showing 'Forms of abuse experienced by Care Leavers' as percentages. - click to view larger image

Framed artwork of a large stone building. - click to view larger image

Limited Release

A selection of photographs of Australian children’s homes and institutions on the public record, curated by Julie Gough.

Australian children’s homes and institutions 13:01

This video has no sound.

Video images courtesy: Ann McVeigh, Brisbane City Council Archives, Department of Family and Community Services NSW, Community Services, Diane Tronc, Gordon Briscoe, Manly Library, National Archives of Australia, National Library of Australia, State Library of New South Wales, State Library of Queensland, State Library of Victoria, State Library of Western Australia, State of New South Wales through the Department of Attorney General and Justice and reproduced with the approval of the State Library of New South Wales.

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