The steps remain: Honouring survivors of Cranbrook Place

Gathering on the site of the former Aboriginal Girls Home – Cranbrook Place in Orleigh Park, West End, Meanjin (Brisbane) – we remembered those who had been removed and placed in that site. It served as a depot for Aboriginal girls being sent into domestic work from across Queensland.

The Link-Up (QLD) National Sorry Day breakfast today brought hundreds of people together to reflect, acknowledge the harm caused by past policies, and it served as a reminder of the unfinished business of Bringing them home.

As Link-Up (QLD) CEO Patricia Thompson AM reflected, it’s important for people to know the history and significance of the Cranbrook Place site.

“Whilst the government called it a ‘training depot’ in reality, it was a place of profound loss. There were strict rules, constant surveillance and hard labour, with some girls as young as five years old,” she said.

“This was a deliberate attempt to break the bonds of family, community and culture.”

Coming together at the home honours their spirit and stories of survival. We paused to reflect that whilst today, all that remains of that building are a few concrete steps, yet the scars of forced removal on families throughout Queensland remains today.

Aunty Pat spoke of the National Sorry Day theme – From Sorry to Action – which makes it clear that acknowledging past harm is important, but acting to address it is critical.

“Sorry signals compassion, action creates justice,” she said.

The Healing Foundation was honoured to attend, lay a wreath at the memorial plaque, and connect with survivors and descendants.

Congratulations to the Link-Up (QLD) team on the success of the event, which is held each year on the Friday before National Sorry Day.

Read more about National Sorry Day on our website.

We encourage you to use National Sorry Day as an opportunity to learn more about the hundreds of missions, reserves and homes where Stolen Generations survivors were forcibly removed to, right across Australia. Cranbrook Place is listed on that map.

Learn more: https://www.healingfoundation.org.au/stolen-generations/institutions-map/