Its previous uses have included being an industrial school, a children's home, a military signal station, a television filming location, and a youth hostel.

Haut de la Garenne began in 1867 as an industrial school for "young people of the lower classes of society and neglected children".

[1] The construction of the school was funded at a cost of £2,410[2] by the Assembly of Governor, Bailiff and Jurats in order to house and educate boys formerly looked after at the General Hospital in Saint Helier.

[3] On 22 June 1867, 45 boys were transferred by coach to the new institution, overseen by Jurats Neel and Aubin, Charles Simon, director of the hospital, and Mr. Higginbottom, master of the new school.

[9] The proposal for a luxury hotel development spurred parishioners of Saint Martin to call a Parish Assembly by means of a requête.

This decision was reversed, and in 1992 the Planning and Environment Committee took over administration of the site from Public Services, and the building was used for temporary accommodation for visiting groups of musicians and sportspeople, especially during festivals.

[2] On 8 December 1998 the States voted to establish a trust to manage and operate Haut de la Garenne as a residential centre.

On 22 October 2002 the States adopted a Law granting an Act of Incorporation to the Association called "The Haut de la Garenne Trust".

[19] In its report in July 2017 the inquiry recommended that Haut de la Garenne be demolished as it was a reminder of an "unhappy past or shameful history".

The building is also intended to act as a learning centre, offering classes in business and administration, cookery, environmental studies and other subjects.