Morialta Protestant Children's Home was from 1924 to 1974 a residential care facility for orphans and neglected children in
South Australia
South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories ...
. It was built for
John Baker John Baker or Jon Baker may refer to:
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*John Baker (American Revolutionary War) (1731–1787), American Revolutionary War hero, for whom Baker County, Georgia was named
*John Baker (RAF officer) (1897–1978), British air marshal
...
, and is now a holiday camp owned by the
United Church
A united church, also called a uniting church, is a church formed from the merger or other form of church union of two or more different Protestant Christian denominations.
Historically, unions of Protestant churches were enforced by the state ...
.
History
"Morialta House" was built in 1847 for John Baker, who was appointed to the first Legislative Council of South Australia and succeeded Boyle Travers Finnis as Premier, but was ousted twelve days later.
His son
Richard Chaffey Baker
Sir Richard Chaffey Baker (22 June 1842 – 18 March 1911) was an Australian politician. A barrister by trade, he embarked on a successful career in South Australian colonial politics, serving as Attorney-General of South Australia from 1870 to ...
, later "Sir Richard", inherited the property in 1872, and on his death in 1911, his son
John Richard Baker
John is a common English name and surname:
* John (given name)
* John (surname)
John may also refer to:
New Testament
Works
* Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John
* First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John
* Second E ...
inherited the 17-room mansion, with numerous out-buildings including servants' quarters, all on of rich farming land near
Norton Summit.
The
South Australian Protestant Federation was founded in 1917 as a virulent anti-Catholic alliance.
Following the success of the (Catholic) Orphanages of St. Vincent de Paul in
Gilberton, and
Goodwood Park Goodwood may refer to:
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* Glorious Goodwood, a horseracing event in the United Kingdom
* Goodwood Revival, a historical motorsport event in the United Kingdom
Places a ...
in the State, the Federation, whose secretary was
Philip Vincent Colebatch, decided to purchase "Morialta" as a Protestant home for orphan and neglected children. He was, briefly, the first Superintendent of the Home, which opened in October 1924. with accommodation for 67 children. In 1929 another wing was opened, with beds for another 42 boys in three dormitories.
By October 1932 56 boys and 37 girls were living at the Home.
Board of management consisted of three members, elected annually, from each of:
*S.A. Baptist Union,
*
Congregational Union of S.A.,
*Presbyterian Churches in South Australia,
*Churches of Christ of S.A.,
*S.A. Protestant Federation,
*I.O.O.F. Lodge,
*Loyal Orange Institution
*Public Subscribers
Staff included a Head Gardener, to oversee the vegetable garden, orchard and dairy herd, and train the boys, who were expected to be useful as farm workers on leaving the Home. Similarly, the Matron oversaw the girls cooking, washing and mending in the expectation they would later be employed as domestic servants.
[
All the children attended the Norton's Summit State School.
In 1934 the annual budget was £3,500 to feed, clothe and train the children. Income was derived from sale of produce,][ annual fetes held at the ]Town Hall
In local government, a city hall, town hall, civic centre (in the UK or Australia), guildhall, or a municipal building (in the Philippines), is the chief administrative building of a city, town, or other municipality. It usually houses ...
, and donations from individuals and organisations.
Documentary
In 1950 J. Campbell Dobbie (1900–1963) produced a film ''The Open Door'' on the Morialta Home.
Current status
The property is owned by Youth with a Mission.
References
{{Reflist
Orphanages in Australia
1924 establishments in Australia
1974 disestablishments in Australia