Parramatta Girls’ Home Memorial
The NSW Government is committed to building a memorial at the Parramatta Girls’ Home site to acknowledge the women who experienced abuse as children at the home.
The memorial will be a place of remembrance and reflection for their families, as well as the wider community.
We will provide updates on the progress of the memorial.
Memorial design unveiled
On Wednesday 13 September 2017, Minister for Department of Communities and Justice Pru Goward met with former residents of Parramatta Girls’ Home at Parliament House to unveil the memorial design that will commemorate survivors of abuse.
The memorial, designed by successful tenderer Trigger, will provide a place at the former home for its survivors, their loved ones and members of the public to reflect.
Ms Goward said the NSW Government made a commitment to develop an active place of remembrance at the site of the former home in North Parramatta after the Royal Commission in 2014.
“We heard from more than 80 survivors of the Parramatta Girls’ Home while we were planning this memorial and what they shared with us were stories of the long lasting impact of the abuse they experienced at the home,” Ms Goward said.
“We heard horrific stories of harsh discipline and physical and sexual abuse perpetrated against them by the very people who were entrusted to care for them.
“This memorial will not change what happened, but it will send a clear message that abuse against children is not acceptable and should never happen again.”
Former residents of the home participated in the design selection process to ensure the memorial reflected common themes and values expressed by the former residents.
Trigger, a Sydney based design group, was selected through a competitive procurement process as the tenderer to design and install the memorial at the former girl’s home.
Memorial designs
His Excellency the Honourable TF Bathurst AC, Lieutenant-Governor of New South Wales also made a speech at the design unveiling.
When will the memorial be completed?
The date of installation has not been finalised. There are a number of steps following the selection of a design, including submission of development applications for the memorial and for the site. The memorial is likely to be completed and opened to the public in late 2018. Check this website for further updates.
How was the memorial selected?
The design was selected with the assistance of former residents who participated in consultations and surveys about what they would like to see in a memorial, and which memorial design they preferred.
The final memorial was selected by an independent panel who assessed the memorial for artistic merit, technical expertise, feasibility, alignment with budget and, most importantly, interpretation of the themes outlined by former residents during consultations.
An initial series of consultations was held with former residents to discuss ideas about a suitable memorial. Read the Consultation Summary Report .
In June 2016, former residents were able to comment on the five shortlisted artists initial design ideas for a memorial via a workshop and a questionnaire. View a summary of what was heard during the consultations.
Where is the memorial going to be located?
The memorial will be located at the site of the former Parramatta Girls’ Home in North Parramatta. A location has been chosen which can be easily accessed by former residents and the community, while offering a quiet place for reflection.
Contact
parramattagirlsmemorial@facs.nsw.gov.au
DCJ Royal Commission Team, Department of Communities and Justice
Level 2, 223-239 Liverpool Road, Ashfield NSW 2131