Clontarf Aboriginal College - History

History

In 1897, the Christian Brothers assumed control of the Sisters of Mercy orphanage in Subiaco which housed 81 boys. Shortly after, the Brothers located and acquired land on the banks of the Canning River near present day Manning. The Bishop of Perth, The Most Rev. Dr. Matthew Gibney, laid the foundation stone for the new building in 1901.

Originally named St Joseph's Boys' Orphanage, the first building was completed in September 1901 and the first boys were transferred there shortly after. The Superior was Brother Kevin Ryan and other Brothers Bodkin and O'Connor also assisted. Various other buildings including a bakehouse, laundry, store-room and toilets were soon constructed, however most of these early structures have since been demolished. Sometime later it was renamed to St Peter's Intermediate Orphanage.

By 1919, Brother Paul Keaney joined the staff and it became known as Clontarf Boy's Orphanage. In 1927, access to the community was improved after a road from Canning Bridge through to Albany Highway was constructed. Originally called Clontarf Road, this is now known as Manning Road. By the 1930s Clontarf was almost self-sufficient with an extensive orchard and vegetable garden as well as a dairy, poultry yard, a piggery and holdings of other livestock. It housed between 100 and 150 boys, usually aged between six and fourteen years. Boys received a primary school education, religious teaching and training in basic manual skills and farm practices. Government funding for the boys was withdrawn at the age of fourteen which was when most boys left.

Between 1936 and 1942, Brother Keaney served a second period as Superior during which he introduced an apprenticeship scheme that provided the boys with trade skills. Many buildings were constructed during the period using the boys as labourers. It is estimated that 300,000 bricks were laid by the boys for a new chapel which was built and consecrated in 1941 by Archbishop Redmond Prendiville. Other tasks done by the boys included roof tiling and carpentry work. In 1941 the orphanage was renamed Clontarf Boys' Town and around that time started taking orphans from Britain.

With the advent of World War II, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) seconded the site as a training school between 1942 and 1945. The Brothers and the boys moved to new farm schools at Bindoon and Tardun.

After the war, the Christian Brothers returned with the Sisters of Mercy also using some of the buildings as a convent through to 1966. A junior secondary school was also introduced with some boys moving to the nearby Aquinas College to complete their schooling. By 1953, the population was 249 and in 1961 it was opened to day pupils and boarders. It was renamed to Clontarf School and in 1964 had a peak enrolment of 303 boys.

From the early 1970s, the Christian Brothers started to use the facilities as a treatment centre for adolescents with behavioural problems and day boys ceased to be enrolled by 1977. Enrolments were reduced to 30 by the early 1980s. It closed in April 1984 but reopened as the Clontarf Aboriginal College on 2 May 1986. Up to 50 Indigenous Australian boys from remote areas of the state board at two hostels run by the college, one at North Beach and the other at North Fremantle. As of 2010, the College is planning to build a boarding facility on site.