Remembering the Papatoetoe Orphan Home

Fifty years ago on 5 August 1963 the Health Department's Division of Mental Health began using the former Papatoetoe Orphan Home as a hospital for children with special learning and living needs. The home, also previously and variously known as St John’s Orphanage, St Mary’s Home and the Church of England Orphan Home was now renamed St John’s Home. St John’s Home eventually became a satellite home of the Mangere Hospital (in Robertson Road) for young people with intellectual challanges.

Papatoetoe Orphan Home had been laid out according to a 1907 plan by the architect George Selwyn Goldsbro’.

Ref: AWNS-19070815-5-1, plan for the proposed orphanage in Papatoetoe, 1907, Sir George Grey Special Collections

However because of budgetary constraints it would be built in stages.  Only three of the four dormitory blocks were built initially. (The fourth dormitory block was never built). The blocks were linked by corridors.  There was a dining hall and laundry building behind the dormitories and outlying school and infirmary. Papatoetoe Orphan Home was opened on 1 April 1909 accommodating 64 children. The official opening was held one month later.

Ref: AWNS 19090506-4-6, dedication and opening of the new orphan home at Papatoetoe, Auckland on 1 May 1909, Sir George Grey Special Collections

In 1918 the Orphan Home Trust Board decided to create a Home Chapel for the orphans and the people of Papatoetoe. The children themselves helped raise funds for this project. The chapel's foundation stone was laid in September 1918 and construction was completed in 1919. The chapel was consecrated as the Chapel of the Holy Saviour.

Ref: Footprints 01462, Chapel of Our Saviour, Papatoetoe Orphan Home, c. 1960, photograph reproduced by courtesy of Trevor Penman and Mrs Gladys Penman, South Auckland Research Centre

In the home’s first decade there were many applications to admit children and to relieve some of this pressure a two-storey central administration block, which included an extra dormitory for older girls, was built during the 1920s. It was opened in May 1923.

Ref: Footprints 02142, former Orphan Home, Papatoetoe, 2005, photograph reproduced by courtesy of Papatoetoe Historical Society, South Auckland Research Centre

The children were usually aged between 2 and 9 when they were admitted to the Papatoetoe Orphan Home. Boys could stay until they turned 14 and girls until they turned 16 years of age. When they were not at church, school or play, young boys had to work in the home’s vegetable garden. Boys aged between 12 and 14 worked on the home’s farm. Young girls were taught housekeeping duties, and older girls aged between 14 and 16 were trained as domestic servants.

Ref: AWNS-19270106-14-1, Archbishop Averill with two orphans from the Papatoetoe orphanage, 1927, Sir George Grey Special Collections

 Author: Christopher Paxton, South Auckland Research Centre

Comments

  1. I was a young resident there during the 1940's. How can I find out more of the history of this place ?

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    Replies
    1. Hi John,

      The best place to start would be getting in touch with the South Auckland Research Centre as they hold the Papatoetoe Orphan Home Photograph Collection as well as some other related materials. Some of the records are restricted access but the staff at the South Research Centre will be able to give specific advice around that. Contact details for the South Auckland Research Centre are on the main Auckland Libraries website and the phone number there is: Tel: 09 261 8637.

      Thanks for your enquiry,

      Andrew

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    2. More information on the Papatoetoe Orphan Home Photograph Collection is available here: http://thecommunityarchive.org.nz/node/271795/description

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    3. Hi John
      I'm part of the team who are working on restoring the old Home. Another place you can get information about the place is the Papatoetoe Historical Places Trust. Main contact is Jenny Clarke.

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  2. HI, Can you please help or give assistance how to find out orphan's whom attended this home My Nana was an orphan and believe this could of been where she was put, she was born 1925 and believe she could of been there from 1930-1948. Plus also to find out whom put her in this home. She told me she used to visit family in the holidays around Papakura area, not sure how far that is from papatoaetoe?

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  3. Hi there,

    Thanks for your enquiry!

    My colleague Andrew provided the following information in reply to an earlier comment: the best place to start would be getting in touch with the South Auckland Research Centre as they hold the Papatoetoe Orphan Home Photograph Collection as well as some other related materials. Some of the records are restricted access but the staff at the South Research Centre will be able to give specific advice around that. Contact details for the South Auckland Research Centre are on the main Auckland Libraries website and the phone number there is: Tel: 09 261 8637.

    Another organisation to contact is the Papatoetoe Historical Places Trust.

    Thanks,

    Zoë.

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  4. For those who believe they were residents of the Orphanage - they could contact the Anglican Trust for Women and Children - as this was one of the Trust's early services. https://atwc.org.nz/about-us/a-brief-history/

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  5. Hi, my brothers and I spent time at the orphanage in the late 1950's...before we we went to a family home in Kawakawa Bay....I have fond memories of the place..would love to see photos from that time, we have a couple with all the boys..including my brothers..and would like to hear from others from that time..is there any way to make contact?

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  6. You can also contact the Anglican Trust for Women and Children - www.atwc.org.nz

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  7. Hi,
    my father James and his younger brother John, known as Jack were also in the Orphanage. Not sure of the years but around the late 20's and possibly all of the '30s.
    Where can I go for some information re my father and uncle during that period.

    Thanking you,
    Brian

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  8. I m trying to find a photo of my mum that was there lynette wolf

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  9. My mother was merlisted there and also by the farmer that was there her name is lynette wolf I would like pictures of my mum and the farmer

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  10. Hi there, I’m looking for photos of my mum & uncle, Gloria & Ken Smith

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    Replies
    1. Contact ATWC or the Auckland Anglican Diocesan Archive in Parnell.

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  11. Wooooah I grew up on pah road and I've only been as far as the toilets in the front I've always wanted to look inside for a tour would that be possible?

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