Call for Witnesses: The Bayswater Boys Home Child Abuse
Were You at Bayswater Boys Home in the 1970s? We Need Your Help.
Koffels Solicitors and Barristers are reaching out to anyone who attended the Bayswater Boys Home in The Basin, Bayswater, Victoria, between 1970 and 1975. We are also seeking information about a Salvation Army staff member known as “Big Harry.”
The Dark History of Bayswater Boys Home
The Bayswater Boys Home, established by the Salvation Army in 1897, served as a place for boys placed in supervised legal custody by the courts. However, behind closed doors, a grave injustice occurred. Child sexual abuse was rampant within the Bayswater Boys Home.
The Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into the Handling of Child Abuse by Religious and Other Non-Government Organisations identified the Bayswater Boys Home as one of the places where abuse was all too prevalent. The Box Hill Boys Home was also mentioned in this disturbing context.
The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse received evidence not only of child sexual abuse but also of routine physical abuse within the walls of Bayswater Boys Home.
State Oversight and the Culture of Abuse
Despite the State of Victoria having statutory oversight of Bayswater Boys Home, the Royal Commission uncovered shocking details. Between 1957 and 1984, only 12 inspections were carried out by the State of Victoria. Even more concerning, the inspection records primarily focused on the physical aspects of the home rather than the well-being of its young residents. This allowed a culture of abuse to persist unchecked.
Your Information Matters
If you, or anyone you know, have any information regarding the abuse at Bayswater Boys Home during this period or about “Big Harry,” we urge you to come forward. Your information could be crucial in seeking justice for the victims and holding those responsible accountable.
Confidentiality Guaranteed
Rest assured that all information provided will be treated with the utmost confidentiality unless we have your express permission to do otherwise.
How to Contact Us
If you have information or if you are considering making a claim yourself, please reach out to us via the form below or call us on 02 92835599. Your voice can make a difference in uncovering the truth and ensuring justice is served.
Together, let’s shed light on the dark chapters of history and work towards a more just future.
