Brother William Houston

Brother William Stuart Houston was born on 18 February 1939. He is a former Christian Brother who joined the order in 1959 and taught at various schools in Melbourne and regional Victoria for approximately 40 years. This included Therry College (now Penola Catholic College - Melbourne) and Christian Brothers College (CBC - St Kilda East, Melbourne). Between 1963 and 1971, Brother Houston was a teacher and sports master at St Augustine’s Orphanage in Highton, near Geelong, Victoria. In his later service with the Christian Brothers, he took on the role of carer at a hostel care facility for elderly Christian Brothers in 1999. He left the Order in 2008.

In 1997, Brother Houston was charged by Victoria Police with 14 offences dealing with child sexual abuse, including indecent assault and buggery. The offences were committed against multiple boys while Brother Houston served/worked at St Augustine’s Orphanage near Geelong. However, the Victorian Office of Public Prosecutions decided not to proceed until other victims came forward. In 2008, another two victims made allegations of child sexual abuse when they were at St Augustine’s consequently leading to Brother Houston standing trial in the Victoria County Court in 2016. In the end Brother Houston pleaded guilty to 12 charges of indecent assault, committed against three boys. He was jailed for 12 years and nine months with a minimum of eight years years. He was 77 years old at the time.

In April 2021, the Victorian County Court sentenced Brother Houston (now 82 years of age) to a further seven years in prison after he was found guilty of buggery and three counts of indecent assault for abusing another two boys at St Augustine’s.

Moody Law has in the past represented and is still representing clients who were sexually abused by members of the Christian Brothers at various institutions including St Augustine’s Orphanage.

We invite former victims of Brother William Houston or of any other member of the Christian Brothers to tell us confidentially what information they may have, and we will explain what options are available to help with these cases.

Call us or complete the confidential enquiry form below.