As he took down the sign outside BCA House in Broken Hill in mid-January 2024, Indigenous Ministry Officer Neville Naden rightly said it was the end of an era.

The planning for a facility to serve the people of Broken Hill and beyond was first flagged in the December 1949 issue of The Real Australian which reported that, “The Council of BCA has made a big venture of faith in purchasing a large building with extensive grounds in an ideal part of that city at a cost of some £5,000. Although the money is not in hand it was felt that this was an opportunity which should not be missed because for many years now it has been quite clear that a hostel is most necessary for boys of the Far West who desire to study the special courses of training available in Broken Hill schools.”

BCA House was officially opened on 6 March 1950 by the Archbishop of Sydney, the Bishop of Riverina, the Rector of Broken Hill and BCA missioners. The Hostel, a converted old home set on a large block, was originally built as a Stock and Station Agency and was able to provide accommodation for up to 30 children. Hostel staff were responsible for getting the children up for school, cooking, cleaning, washing and ironing, taking children to medical appointments, attending school nights and sports, supervising homework and any household jobs that needed doing.

Arthur & Beryl McLaughlin were the first Hostel Parents from 1950 – 1955 alongside Deaconess Peggy Spry, when BCA House specifically catered for boys. Beryl McLaughlin recalled her move to the Central West before her passing in 2015, “In January 1950 we set off to Broken Hill with our children Arthur 6, Stella 3 and baby Colin 4 months old. Over the next six years we increased our numbers from 10 to 30 boys and adopted a baby girl, bringing our own family to four.”

When Laurie & Pauline Calder (parents of Bishop of Bathurst, Mark Calder) took over in 1956 they recalled, “We arrived at the Hostel for the first school term in 1956 and a week later our family arrived – all 33 of them! Just imagine – an instant family! (and we had two boys of our own). We would have them in our ‘home’ and in our care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week until the end of term, then a break before the next term. However, during the break there would be many matters to attend to – spring cleaning, maintenance etc. Officially we were Matron and Administrator, however we preferred “mum and dad” as we rather hoped the hostel under our care would be a home away from home.”

Many wonderful couples and individuals served at BCA House in the decades that followed.

BCA House was operated as a hostel for both boys and girls until late 2001 when the hostel was no longer financially viable.

Since 2002, BCA House had been used as a home for our Field Staff and as a base for visiting mission teams, Dusty Boots trips and other related school groups. Sadly, this ageing property has high maintenance costs so needs to be better utilised. For many it is a sad day to bid farewell, but we do so in the best interests of BCA.