As the 100th anniversary of the Kinchela Aboriginal Boys Training Home approaches, the Kinchela Boys Home Aboriginal Corporation is calling for the site of the notorious facility to be transformed into a national centre for truth-telling and healing.
Located on Dunghutti land at Kinchela on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, the Kinchela Aboriginal Boys Training Home (Kinchela) operated between 1924 and 1970, housing some 400-600 young boys along with a small number of girls in its first year who were taken from their families during a time where policies of cultural genocide aimed to assimilate Indigenous children into white settler society.
Conditions within Kinchela were brutal, characterised by physical hardship, punishment and abuses that were meted out routinely.
Now in 2024, only 49 of the up to 600 Stolen Generations victims who experienced the brutal conditions of Kinchela are still with us. Known as the Uncles, the men carry the deep trauma after losing vital connections to their families, culture, language and land.
Instead of burying the intergenerational trauma which continues to impact both the Uncles and their descendants, they, along with the Kinchela Boys Home Aboriginal Corporation (KBHAC), are actively seeking an agreement to own and manage the grounds and implement plans to address the legacy of violence against Stolen Generations survivors.
They hope a proposed dedicated museum and healing centre will serve as a 'keeping place' for vital information, fostering greater understanding of the traumatic impacts experienced by survivors and their communities while ensuring the confronting history of Kinchela is never forgotten.
Kinchela Boys Home Survivor and board chair Uncle Michael James 'Widdy' Welsh said the 100th anniversary of Kinchela presents a "pivotal moment for healing and reconciliation".
"Our vision is to transform this site from a place of trauma into a house of healing – a national centre where our stories can be told and our culture can be celebrated," he said.
"It is essential that we honour the experiences of those who came before us, ensuring their voices are heard and their truths recognised.
"This site will serve not only as a memorial but as a beacon of hope for future generations, fostering understanding and connection to our culture and heritage."
Kinchela is recognised for its historical significance both nationally and internationally. It was listed on the NSW State Heritage Register in 2012 and designated as an Aboriginal Place in 2013, before the World Monument Fund in 2022 included it on its World Monuments Watch as one of 25 globally significant heritage sites that require urgent preservation.
Kinchela Boys Home survivor and KBHAC board member, Uncle Rodger Jarrett, says despite the deep-rooted pain and trauma, it is the Uncles and KBHAC's mission to turn Kinchela into a place where stories can be shared, understood and honoured.
"We want future generations to know the truth of what happened here and to recognise the strength and resilience of those who endured it," Uncle Rodger said.
"This transformation is not just about remembering the past; it's about creating a future where healing and reconciliation can thrive."
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With less than a tenth of the Uncles still alive and three having passed away in recent months, KBHAC says time is critical to ensure the stories of Kinchela are preserved and the wishes of survivors fulfilled. They say the proposed Healing Centre would provide a safe environment for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, supported by advocates with lived experience.
KBHAC chief executive Dr Tiffany McComsey said it is essential that the profound impact Kinchela has had on countless lives is confronted.
"Our vision is to transform this site into a national museum and healing centre – a place where the stories of survivors are honoured and where future generations can learn about the injustices of the past," Dr McComsey said.
"This project is a commitment to healing and reconciliation, ensuring that the voices of the Stolen Generations are never forgotten.
"By creating a space dedicated to understanding and connection, we empower our community to move forward together and build a brighter future."
Dr McComsey said as the 100th year of the Kinchela's opening arrives history is at a "tipping point" with the remaining survivors of the Stolen Generations who endured the atrocities of Kinchela Boys Home growing fewer every year.
"These brave Uncles have carried the burden of cultural, emotional, and physical trauma for decades, and their stories are crucial to Australia's healing journey," she said.
KBHAC is aiming to raise $5 million for the restoration of Kinchela to transform it into a national site of truth-telling and healing.
"The vision to transform Kinchela Boys Home into a national centre for truth-telling and healing offers a chance to break the cycle of multigenerational trauma that continues to affect their descendants," Dr McComsey said.
"However, without a decisive 10-year commitment to invest in the restoration of the site and the creation of a Healing Centre, this opportunity will slip away, and the strength and resilience of these survivors will not be properly honoured."
Dr McComsey said the proposed centre will serve as a powerful reminder of the past and a place where future generations can learn and reflect.
"This is our chance to stand on the right side of history – to support healing, truth-telling, and reconciliation," she said.
On the 100th anniversary of Kinchela, KHABC is inviting all Australians to join in acknowledging the painful chapter in the nation's history and supporting the survivors, their descendants and families in their quest for justice, recognition and healing.
KBHAC is dedicated to preserving the history of Kinchela Aboriginal Boys Home, supporting survivors and their families, and fostering reconciliation through education and healing initiatives.
