Collection of Stories

A collection of poignant stories of Aboriginal children who lived at Ellensbrook can be found in one of the rooms of the old building. From 1898 to 1917 eighteen children came to live at the Ellensbrook Farm Home, run by Edith Bussell. This Home came about through Edith’s connection with Henry Prinsep, the Chief Protector for Aborigines, and her cousin by marriage. The primary purpose was to care for, educate and train the children for future work as domestic staff or labourers. The collection of stories includes photographs and short accounts of the children, who mostly came from towns and stations in the North West. They were sent to Ellensbrook under the paternalistic policies of the day that were a precursor to the Aborigines Act 1905 which laid the basis for the forcible removal of Aboriginal children from their families (the Stolen Generations).