Bye-Bye Charlie

Bye-Bye Charlie provides an insightful exploration into the history of Kew Cottages, an iconic symbol for many Australians. Opened in 1887 by the Victorian government, Kew Cottages stands as Australia's first and largest specialised institution for people with intellectual disability. Over its 121-year history, Kew Cottages often struggled to provide a high level of care for its residents. Persistent overcrowding, inadequate funding, and government and public apathy resulted in many residents enduring lives of hardship and neglect.

Bye-Bye Charlie offers a rare glimpse into the world of Kew Cottages. Through oral testimony from a diverse range of people, including residents, families, staff, policymakers, and visitors, as well as documentary evidence, it presents a moving account of the path to institutional living. Highlighting the complex emotions felt by people associated with the institution, the book also covers the facility's eventual closure.

Most importantly, Bye-Bye Charlie celebrates the lives of people who have long been silenced or forgotten, turning them into active participants of their own history making.