Many accounts of siblings separated from each other question the extent to which the mixed groups worked, one former resident, who was at Allambie in 1974, made contact with the Find & Connect web resource to point out that she was separated from her younger brother.

‘I would like to say that it is not correct at my time in Allambie in 1974 that siblings were accommodated together. There may have been three sections, l can’t remember if there was or not but l do remember how upset l was that l could not see my younger brother. I was 6/7 and my brother was 4 and l clearly remember trying to see him in the play area for younger children, an area l was not allowed in because l was too old. I also remember the staff having no understanding of how upset l was about this when l got caught in the playground because it was the only way l could see him. l was not there for very long, l remember the school there and that it was very overcrowded, so much so that children slept on mattresses on the floor.’

During 1974, Allambie again suffered from overcrowding. The capacity of the site was 230, however there were always more children being accommodated, ranging from 236 to 315. At this time 25 children would arrive at the centre each week with a comcomitant number leaving.
‘An important aspect of Allambie’s function is to provide safe custody for children while the Police are preparing protection applications to be heard by the Children’s Court, within a week of admission… Allambie also continues to hold a significant number of retarded children.’

• Social Welfare Department – Annual Report, Year ended June 30, 1974, p23-24

Much of the language historically used to describe institutional ‘care’ and the children and adults impacted by it is considered offensive, derogatory and inappropriate today.
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