Turana Boys Home

Turana Boys Home

900 Park Drive, Royal Park

Parkville

VIC

Australia

Provider: Victorian Government

Year Opened: 1952

Year Closed: 1993

Also known as Turana Youth Training Centre, Royal Park Depot, Turana Reception Centre (1955-1968) and Turana Juvenile School (1957-1962)

The different sections of Turana Boys Home were:

  • Billabong originally called Coolabah
  • Poplar Cottage
  • Quamby House
  • Waratah House

The Royal Park Depot in Parkville was the sole reception centre for children committed to State Care from 1880 – 1961. The buildings were renamed Turana in 1952.

From around 1960, the Government established new reception centres, to alleviate overcrowding at Turana.  By the 1990’s the state was contracting out ‘reception care’ to non-government agencies.

Turana operated as a youth training centre from around 1985.

The Melbourne Youth Justice Centre opened on the site in 1993, and the Parkville Youth Residential Centre opened on the site in 1991.

Does anyone know of Douglas Roy Wilkie, a youth worker at Turana Boys Home, Parkville in 1960 – 1963?  If so, can you please ring CLAN on 1800 008 774.

Pages and articles mentioning this home

Sex abuse royal commission to investigate ‘horrible’ youth training centres where children were ‘treated as numbers’ – Interview with CLAN CEO Leonie Sheedy – ABC News

Turana Youth Training Centre (researchdata.edu.au)

Turana (1955–93) (findingrecords.dhhs.vic.gov.au)

15-year-old sent to gaol for assault

CLAN Homes – Orphanages Gallery

There are currently no other images available for CLAN members to view for this Home. If you have any images and would like to donate them, please contact CLAN.

Channel 9 program and interview about Turana Youth Training Centre in Parkville, early 1980s.

“Footage and photos of Turana YTC Park St Parkville”

Johns Story

CLAN Museum Gallery

There are currently no images of historical items available for CLAN members to view for this Home. If you have any historical items and would like to donate them, please contact CLAN.

CLAN library books where this Home is mentioned include:

There are currently no other Library Items available for CLAN members to view for this Home. If you have any Library Items and would like to donate them, please contact CLAN.

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