Aboriginal Girls Home, West End
The Aboriginal Girls Home, West End (1899–1906) was established under the Aboriginals Protection and Restriction of the Sale of Opium Act 1897, which enabled the removal and control of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The Home operated as a receiving home and training depot for Aboriginal women and girls who were brought to Brisbane and then sent out to domestic service positions in white households. Located at the site now known as Cranbrook Place, within West End’s Orleigh Park, the institution was under the authority of the Protectress and matron, who exercised extensive control over the women’s movements, employment and daily lives, contributing to their forced separation from family, community and Country.
Sorry Day Research Project
Each year Link-Up (Qld) hosts a community Sorry Day event at the site of the Aboriginal Girls Home, West End to commemorate Sorry Day and its meaning, and to remember the girls and women who were resident in the institution. Recently, research was undertaken by Link-Up (Qld) to identify the women and girls who were admitted to the Aboriginal Girls Home, West End, and to honour their lives and experiences. The research will be used to enhance Link-Up (Qld)’s annual Sorry Day community event and future initiatives. Building on earlier work, the project has identified 80 women and girls who are directly or indirectly referenced in records as having been at the Home. Their names are listed below.
If you believe you may be a descendant of one of these women, we encourage you to complete the form below. This information can help Link-Up (Qld) continue to identify family and community connections and support the healing journeys of Stolen Generations survivors and descendants.
By providing your information below, Link-Up (Qld) may contact you about updates to the Sorry Day research project or if we believe you may be able to assist with other initiatives.
List of Women
Please note: Names in black font indicate that records include direct references to residence at the Aboriginal Girls Home, West End. Names in blue font indicate indirect references.
| Name | Date/s admitted to the Home | Name | Date/s admitted to the Home |
| Alice Barnett | c. 1902 | Lorna Cobbo | 1906 |
| Alice Jack Sandwich | 1902 | Lucy Gracemere | 1902 |
| Annie Bowman | 1903 | Lucy McCullough | 1906 |
| Annie Daylight | 1904, 1906 | Lucy Wheeler | 1903 |
| Beatrice Turner | 1902 | Mabel McCullough | 1906 |
| Bella McLean | 1906 | Madeline Ferguson | 1901 |
| Bertha Walsh | 1900 & 1904 | Maggie Turnbull | 1901 |
| Bessie Richards | 1906 | Mary (from Charleville) | 1901 |
| Caroline (from Mitchell/Roma) | 1900 | Mary Ann Brown | 1902 |
| Cissie Fraser | 1901 | Mary Brown | 1901 |
| Cissie Johnson | 1903 | Mary Combo | 1900-1904 |
| Cissy (absconded from Cooparoo) | 1904 | Mary Jackeye/Jackey (aka Thompson, nee Roberts) | Year Unknown |
| Cissy (at Durundur) | c. 1904 | Mary Wassow | 1902 |
| Clara Brown/Carbine | 1901 | Mary Ann Thorpe | 1901 |
| Clara Wheeler | 1903 | Matilda Logan | 1901 |
| Clara with baby | 1906 | Maud Anderson | 1906 |
| Dinah (with Mrs Hobson) | c. 1903/1904 | Maud Morgan | 1903/1904 |
| Dora Ord | 1902 | Maudie (from Rockhampton) | 1901 |
| Emily (no surname) | c. 1904 | Maudie from St George | 1902 |
| Emily Graham | 1901 | May (daughter of Maggie) | 1901 |
| Ettie Walsh | 1900-1901, 1904-1905 | Minna | 1900 & 1902 |
| Eva (from Alpha) | c. 1903-1904 | Minnie (from Mount Margaret) | 1901 |
| Fanny Logan | 1900-1901/1906 | Minnie Mackay | 1900-1901 |
| Florry | 1900 | Molly | 1906 |
| Hannah Hamilton | 1902 | Mutta (from Carandotta) | 1903 |
| Ida Rigby | 1902 & 1904 | Nellie Maher | 1900 |
| Jane Gordan | 1900 | Nelly (from Mitchell/Roma) | 1900 |
| Janey Logan | Year Unknown | Nina | 1900 |
| Jessie Smith (from Charleville) | 1901 | Nina Amos | c.1899-1900 |
| Jessie Thompson | 1900/1901 | Polly from St George | 1902 |
| Julia | 1900 | Rosie (from Clermont) | 1900 |
| Kate (from the Namoi) | 1900 | Rosie (from Rockhampton) | 1900 |
| Kitty | 1900 | Rosie and baby (from Toowoomba) | 1906 |
| Kitty Stott | 1900 | Ruby (from Roma) | 1901 |
| Latto Wassow | 1902 | Ruby Wall | 1905 |
| Lily McKenzie | 1902,1903 | Sarah Stott | 1900 & 1906 |
| Lily Matthews | c. 1906 | Sophie | 1901 |
| Lizzie Anderson | 1899,1902 & 1905 | Topsy (from Cooktown) | 1900 |
| Lizzie Ross | 1906 | Sarah Kendall (also known as Tutie and Uti) | 1900, 1905 & 1906 |
| Lizzie Smith | 1901 |
Contact Form (Sorry Day Research Project)
If you believe you may be a descendant of one of the identified women, we encourage you to complete the form below. This information can help Link-Up (Qld) continue to identify family and community connections and support the healing journeys of Stolen Generations survivors and descendants.
By providing your information below, Link-Up (Qld) may contact you about updates to the Sorry Day research project or if we believe you may be able to assist with other initiatives.
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