Opening in 1901, the facility has been used for a number of purposes since, most notably as an orphanage for boys operated by the Christian Brothers organisation, and also as a convent and as a day and boarding school.

[1] By the 1930s Clontarf was almost self-sufficient with an extensive orchard and vegetable garden as well as a dairy, poultry yard, a piggery and holdings of other livestock.

Boys received a primary school education, religious teaching and training in basic manual skills and farm practices.

Between 1936 and 1942, Brother Keaney served a second period as Superior during which he introduced an apprenticeship scheme that provided the boys with trade skills.

With the advent of World War II, the Royal Australian Air Force seconded the site as a training school between 1942 and 1945.

From the early 1970s, the Christian Brothers started to use the facilities as a treatment centre for adolescents with behavioural problems and day boys ceased to be enrolled by 1977.

[needs update] In 1920, Christian Brother Frederick Philip Carmody was sentenced to nine years gaol for sexual abuse of boys at Clontarf.

[4] In the late 1980s, allegations of abuse and cruelty were made against the Christian Brothers by former students and residents of various institutions run by the order, including Clontarf.

An organisation named VOICES (Victims of Institutionalised Cruelty, Exploitation and Supporters) was established to represent and provide counselling for those who had experienced abuse at the Christian Brothers' orphanages.

[7] In the popular Australian musical comedy-drama film Bran Nue Dae, Willie (Rocky McKenzie) went to Clontarf, but later ran away and went back to Broome.