Fairbridge, Western Australia
Encyclopedia
Fairbridge, Western Australia is a former farm school and locality near Pinjarra in south west
Western Australia
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and Ruby Fairbridge arrived in Albany, Western Australia, from England and made their way to Pinjarra, arriving on 16 July that same year to establish the world's first Fairbridge Farm School. The school opened on 19 October 1912. Kingsley wanted to see “little children shedding the bondage of bitter circumstances and stretching their legs and minds amid the thousand interests of the farm.” Kingsley’s aim was to provide children with a sense of self worth and provide training and skills to these children.
From 1913 until 1982, Fairbridge Farm School assisted 3,580 children. Young people arrived at Fairbridge under the Child Emigration Scheme, Family and Single Family Migrant Schemes. Over this time the site was used as a training ground for the Women's Land Army, Guildford Grammar private school moved out to Fairbridge during the second world war as their school was used as a hospital base; Fairbridge has the highest number of ex-residents enlist in the armed forces from any Australian educational institution; an airfield was constructed and operated from the school during the Second World War and up until the 1950s; the Dutch refugee children were based at Fairbridge after the Second World War while being reunited with their families; the local Pinjarra school send children to Fairbridge to be educated in specific areas; Fairbridge had the firms legal drag strip in Western Australia on the Fairbridge Road in the 1950s and Fairbridge is listed on every heritage register in Australia.
Fairbridge provided education in task learning husbandry metal work, wood work and attended classes at the on-site school. The Australian Heritage Commission commented in its press release in December 1997, when announcing the listing of Fairbridge on the Interim List of the Register of the National Estate, that “Fairbridge is a striking example of Australia’s early philanthropic movement to resettle and educate migrant children.” The Chair of the Heritage Commission at the time, Ms Wendy McCarthy stated that “by entering Fairbridge in the Interim List of the Register of the National Estate, we are not only recognising the efforts of this philanthropist, Kingsley Fairbridge, but also its role in a significant phase in Australia’s migration history. From 1912 until 1980 Fairbridge Pinjarra played a significant role in the development of the British Empire and Australian migration history on child, single parent and family migration schemes.
Fairbridge had a cottage system with house mothers in every cottage to simulate a home environment.
The village is a nationally and internationally significant heritage-listed site. Founded by Kingsley Fairbridge
it is the only Fairbridge Farm School site that has existing remains. Throughout its history and continuing into today, Fairbridge has existed to create opportunities for young people.
All income created from Fairbridge Western Australia Inc. operations goes back into creating opportunities for young people.
In 1993 the organisation updated its vision to:
"Fairbridge is a place where young people can grow - within themselves, within society and with the earth"
The Village is a place for young people. Those with intellectual or physical disabilities, those who are unemployed, those who are gifted or seeking to achieve those who are dispirited or full of life - Fairbridge is a place for all.
Fairbridge Western Australia Inc. is a major youth charitable organisation in Western Australia and the only charity in Australia that runs a whole nationally listed town site, being Fairbridge in Pinjarra.
The village provides a base for the organisation to run traineeships, apprenticeships and specialised programs for young people at risk, young people with a disability, Indigenous young people and many more.
Fairbridge also receives substantial financial support from the Australian Government and corporate sectors, along with operating as a tourist attraction to supplement income, employ more local people and expose the history and beauty of Fairbridge to the wider population.
Fairbridge uses a holistic approach to working with young people and their families. Services provided can range from mentoring, leadership and personal development, life skills, interest free loans, supported accommodation, appropriate education, nationally accredited training, supported employment opportunities and adventure therapy.
Fairbridge was WA Tourism Award's Silver Medallist 2006 and 2007.
There are 23 different self contained cottages that sleep from 2–56 people.
Fairbridge offers heritage-listed accommodation, catering, adventure activities, training, functions, a coffee shop, art gallery and historical tours.
Southwest, Western Australia
The Southwest is a loosely defined area in the southwest corner of Western Australia. Various regionalisations have provided formal definitions of the area, but these do not coincide.* For the drainage division, see Southwest corner of Western Australia...
Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
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Kingsley Fairbridge
On 15 April 1912, KingsleyKingsley Fairbridge
Kingsley Ogilvie Fairbridge was the founder of a child emigration scheme to British colonies and the Fairbridge Schools...
and Ruby Fairbridge arrived in Albany, Western Australia, from England and made their way to Pinjarra, arriving on 16 July that same year to establish the world's first Fairbridge Farm School. The school opened on 19 October 1912. Kingsley wanted to see “little children shedding the bondage of bitter circumstances and stretching their legs and minds amid the thousand interests of the farm.” Kingsley’s aim was to provide children with a sense of self worth and provide training and skills to these children.
From 1913 until 1982, Fairbridge Farm School assisted 3,580 children. Young people arrived at Fairbridge under the Child Emigration Scheme, Family and Single Family Migrant Schemes. Over this time the site was used as a training ground for the Women's Land Army, Guildford Grammar private school moved out to Fairbridge during the second world war as their school was used as a hospital base; Fairbridge has the highest number of ex-residents enlist in the armed forces from any Australian educational institution; an airfield was constructed and operated from the school during the Second World War and up until the 1950s; the Dutch refugee children were based at Fairbridge after the Second World War while being reunited with their families; the local Pinjarra school send children to Fairbridge to be educated in specific areas; Fairbridge had the firms legal drag strip in Western Australia on the Fairbridge Road in the 1950s and Fairbridge is listed on every heritage register in Australia.
Fairbridge provided education in task learning husbandry metal work, wood work and attended classes at the on-site school. The Australian Heritage Commission commented in its press release in December 1997, when announcing the listing of Fairbridge on the Interim List of the Register of the National Estate, that “Fairbridge is a striking example of Australia’s early philanthropic movement to resettle and educate migrant children.” The Chair of the Heritage Commission at the time, Ms Wendy McCarthy stated that “by entering Fairbridge in the Interim List of the Register of the National Estate, we are not only recognising the efforts of this philanthropist, Kingsley Fairbridge, but also its role in a significant phase in Australia’s migration history. From 1912 until 1980 Fairbridge Pinjarra played a significant role in the development of the British Empire and Australian migration history on child, single parent and family migration schemes.
Fairbridge had a cottage system with house mothers in every cottage to simulate a home environment.
Royal Visitors to Fairbridge
Members of the English royal family have visited Fairbridge Pinjarra, including the Duke and Duchess of York in 1927, the Queen mother in 1964 and Prince Charles in 1979.Fairbridge Western Australia Inc.
Fairbridge Western Australian Inc was established as a charity in 1983. Fairbridge Western Australia Inc. owns and operates Fairbridge Village near the town of Pinjarra. The organisation runs programs and services for young people who are at-risk, disadvantaged and living with a disability. Fairbridge operates Fairbridge Village, which is now run as a training facility for young people and as a tourist destination providing visitors with accommodation, activities and historic surroundings.The village is a nationally and internationally significant heritage-listed site. Founded by Kingsley Fairbridge
Kingsley Fairbridge
Kingsley Ogilvie Fairbridge was the founder of a child emigration scheme to British colonies and the Fairbridge Schools...
it is the only Fairbridge Farm School site that has existing remains. Throughout its history and continuing into today, Fairbridge has existed to create opportunities for young people.
All income created from Fairbridge Western Australia Inc. operations goes back into creating opportunities for young people.
In 1993 the organisation updated its vision to:
"Fairbridge is a place where young people can grow - within themselves, within society and with the earth"
The Village is a place for young people. Those with intellectual or physical disabilities, those who are unemployed, those who are gifted or seeking to achieve those who are dispirited or full of life - Fairbridge is a place for all.
Fairbridge Western Australia Inc. is a major youth charitable organisation in Western Australia and the only charity in Australia that runs a whole nationally listed town site, being Fairbridge in Pinjarra.
The village provides a base for the organisation to run traineeships, apprenticeships and specialised programs for young people at risk, young people with a disability, Indigenous young people and many more.
Operations
Programs are funded through providing tourist accommodation in the village’s 25 heritage-listed, renovated cottages as accommodation for tourists. Fairbridge also offers historical tours, activities and training, a number of buildings as conference and function venues and a coffee shop featuring local artworks as ventures to further attract tourist income.Fairbridge also receives substantial financial support from the Australian Government and corporate sectors, along with operating as a tourist attraction to supplement income, employ more local people and expose the history and beauty of Fairbridge to the wider population.
Purpose of Fairbridge
Fairbridge works with children with a disability, young people at risk, young people with drug problems, and the unemployed, young people in our justice system, young people who are struggling with life, indigenous young people, refugee children, through to gifted young people. Fairbridge assists young people to reach their full potential and bring about long term positive sustainable change in their lives.Fairbridge uses a holistic approach to working with young people and their families. Services provided can range from mentoring, leadership and personal development, life skills, interest free loans, supported accommodation, appropriate education, nationally accredited training, supported employment opportunities and adventure therapy.
Fairbridge Village
Fairbridge is a nationally tourism accredited village that offers heritage-listed accommodation and venues, historical tours, adventure activities, training and catering. The village has an on-site coffee shop that is open seven days a week. Visitors to the village are able to stay for the day or overnight. The Pinjarra site is the only remaining Fairbridge Village in the world out of the eight that were originally built and is the village that Kingsley Fairbridge – the site's founder – was most involved in. All income raised from Fairbridge’s tourism operations goes towards the organisation's on-going charity work with young people.Fairbridge was WA Tourism Award's Silver Medallist 2006 and 2007.
Accommodation
Fairbridge Village Pinjarra consists of 55 heritage listed buildings and 10 newer buildings on 30 hectares of land. The village also has a chapel, dining hall, single and double storey cottages, training and sporting facilities. Accommodation can hold 370 people. The village is the only remaining Fairbridge Farm School that remains largely intact.There are 23 different self contained cottages that sleep from 2–56 people.
Fairbridge Chapel
The chapel in the village is the only building in Australia designed and overseen by Sir Herbert Barker. In 2004 Prof. David Dolan wrote in his about the significance of the Chapel in the international work of Sir Herbert Barker. Over 10 books have been written about the historical significance of Fairbridge and its role in the state, nationally and internationally.Site details
The village is built on 30 hectares of land. Guests staying at the village have access to a 30 metre swimming pool, full sized sporting oval, tennis, beach volleyball, mini golf, art gallery and museum and can explore all the historic parts of the villageServices
Programs and traineeships are conducted at the Village, therefore the young people involved are contributing back to the tourism experience and in turn – the community. Other services that Fairbridge provides for young people include mentoring, leadership and personal development, life skills, interest free loans, supported accommodation, appropriate education, nationally accredited training, supported employment opportunities and adventure therapy.Fairbridge offers heritage-listed accommodation, catering, adventure activities, training, functions, a coffee shop, art gallery and historical tours.
External links
- http://www.fairbridge.asn.au/index.php?page=6
- http://www.fairbridge.asn.au/index.php?page=5
- http://www.theaustralian.com.au/ (Tears for fears of Fairbridge Farm orphans: Nicolas Perpitch in "The Australian", 11 June 2011 Page 4)