Police digging for remains at former Ballarat orphanage site

By Chloe Booker
Age
April 15, 2015

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/police-digging-for-remains-at-former-ballarat-orphanage-site-20150415-1ml5c8.html

The Ballarat orphanage where former residents were allegedly sexually and physically abused.

Police are digging up the grounds of a former Ballarat orphanage associated with historic sexual and physical abuse, searching for children's remains.

The remains are suspected to have been buried at the once Damascus University site before the orphanage closed in 1968.

The investigation was sparked when former orphanage residents raised the issue at Ballarat City Council meetings discussing redevelopment plans for the 200 Victoria Street site.

Former orphanage resident Phyllis Read laid a "blood claim" to the site at a 2012 meeting.

"I say it's our blood, so it's our land," the indigenous woman said.

Her sister, Edith Orr, asked at a 2013 Ballarat City Council meeting how the remains of children allegedly buried there would be respected if it was redeveloped.

A developer bought the site in 2011 and has applied to rezone it for mixed commercial and residential use.  

The matter was referred to the Victoria Police, which is working with the coroner, forensic scientists and the state government to investigate the allegations.

"Victoria Police has received information that children may have been buried on the grounds of the former Ballarat Orphanage," a police statement said.

"The investigation relates to alleged activities that may have occurred whilst the orphanage was operational, prior to its closure in 1968."

The former orphanage was built in the mid-1860s and was a home for more than 4000 children during its tenure.

More than 25 children aged between two and 15 are suspected to have died as a result of abuse or neglect at the orphanage.

Former residents have alleged horrific sexual, physical and emotional abuse.

Allegations include that Catholic nuns "procured children" for notorious paedophile priest Gerald Ridsdale.

Care Leavers Australia Network vice-president Frank Golding experienced violence and "hard times" during his 11 years at the orphanage from age four until 1953.

"Children did go away from the orphanage suddenly. They would disappear without saying goodbye," he said.

"There may have been 190 children and then 189 children overnight. No explanations were given."

Mr Golding said the children may have been simply transferred to another institution or their parents may have won them back.  

However, he said it was possible more sinister elements were at play.

"This is purely speculation, but I would imagine that if a child died as a result of brutality and the authorities wanted to cover it up, it's possible the death may not have been reported," Mr Golding said.

Mr Golding's mother's two sisters attended the orphanage, where one of them died from a neglected medical condition.

He said about 10 to 15 per cent of children at the orphanage were members of the stolen generation.

"If children did die and they were Aboriginal children, there would be very few questions asked because parents wouldn't know where they were," he said.

He said it was important the allegations were tested and, if found, the children given proper burials. "It will clear the air once and for all."