Gender and age: Mixed. 1965: 3-15 years; c.1969, 74, 76-79: 3-12 years; 1984, 85, 86: 3-15. Capacity: 1965: 60; c. 1969: 55; 1974: 50; 1976-79: 48 beds; 1984, 86: 52; 1986 average occupancy: 36. Controlling organisations: South Island Methodist Children’s Home Board, Christchurch Methodist Central Mission. Third-party provider to State, faith-based. Registered 13/5/1929. The Home opened on 25 April 1914 with six children already in residence. … in 1930 a separate bungalow built to accommodate eight boys. By this time there were seventy-two children being cared for. On 31 October 1978, the Christchurch Methodist Central Mission took over management of the Home and the philosophy about care of children moved away from children living in institutional homes, to living in foster homes. August 1967 the Barrington Street Family Home opened as an adjunct to the Home. 1974: This home also arranges foster-home placements 1979: Day Care Centre adjacent for 24 children. 1985: Main Function: Short term assessment. Short, medium and long term residential care. Closes during school holidays but staff available for emergencies. On 28 August 1987 the Home in Harewood Road closed. The building was re-opened as The Sandcastle, the Child and Family Service Centre in 1991 but just one year later was the badly damaged by an arson attack on 29 October 1992. In 1996 the buildings were demolished. This enabled the Wesley Retirement village to be built on the site in 1996. South Island Children’s Home Masters and Matrons: 1914 Sister Mabel Morley 1920 Mr J G W and Mrs Ellis 1924 Mr F J Butler and Mrs Butler 1927 Mr and Mrs Haynes 1938 Mr and Mrs Butler 1940 Miss Barclay (matron) 1950 Mr G Howells and Mrs Howells 1957 Mr and Mrs Karsten (until August 1957) 1957 (from November) Mr W and Mrs Robertson 1960 Mr J E Scott and Mrs Scott 1971 Mr G Bostwick and Mrs Bostwick 1973 Mr L G Reed and Mrs Reed
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