Sister Kate's Children's Home

Sister Kate’s Children’s Cottage Home was established in 1934 in Queens Park, Perth, by Sister Katherine Mary Clutterbuck—better known as Sister Kate. After retiring from the Parkerville Children’s Home, Sister Kate opened this home specifically for fair-skinned Aboriginal children, in line with the government’s assimilation policies of the time.

A Home Shaped by Assimilation Policies

The home was originally based in a six-room cottage called Myola. Over time, it expanded to include multiple purpose-built cottages, a chapel, a kindergarten and landscaped gardens. Much of the early funding came from private donations and community support, including fundraising efforts throughout the 1930s and 1940s.

By 1938, 90 children were living there. Many of these children were forcibly removed from their families under government orders, with the stated goal of raising them according to “white standards”. Children were typically trained for domestic service or farm labour.

Architectural and Heritage Significance

The heritage value of Sister Kate’s Home lies in both its physical structures and its social history. It is listed on the City of Canning Local Heritage Survey (p.25) and assessed for the State Register of Heritage Places (Place #05068) due to its historic role in the care of Aboriginal children.

Key features include:

• The original Myola cottage (1934), followed by the Nursery Cottage (1935) and Memorial Cottage (1948), built in memory of Sister Kate’s assistant, Miss Lefroy.

• A chapel, kitchen, and kindergarten added in the late 1930s.

• Landscaped grounds and garden spaces, maintained by both staff and community volunteers.

The site reflects both the humanitarian intentions of Sister Kate—who was awarded an OBE in 1934—and the controversial assimilation practices enforced by the government.

From Children's Home to Family Services

After Sister Kate’s death in 1946, the home came under the control of the Presbyterian Church (becoming part of the Uniting Church in 1977). By the 1980s, it transitioned into Manguri, a broader Aboriginal child and family service provider.

Despite structural expansions, many former residents described the emotional impact of being cut off from family and culture. Accounts of neglect and mistreatment have been documented in later years.

Today: Healing and Truth-Telling

In recent years, the site has been recognised as a key location of the Stolen Generations, and efforts are underway to restore it as a place of healing. In 2022, the adjacent 2.7-hectare Bush Block, once used as a secret meeting place for Aboriginal families, was officially handed back to the Sister Kate’s Home Kids Aboriginal Corporation.

With government funding and design by UDLA, the site will feature:

• A healing garden

• Cultural education spaces

• Walking trails and public art

• Spaces for community events and truth-telling ceremonies.

Why This Place Still Matters

Sister Kate’s Home tells the story of assimilation policies, forced removal and survival. Its heritage listing ensures that this complex history is not forgotten. The planned Place of Healing will offer a space for reflection, cultural reconnection, and community resilience.