The South Australian Government knew of allegations of child sex abuse at a Salvation Army boys’ home in Adelaide dating back to the 1940s, a royal commission has heard.

The commission was told of various allegations and incidents, including some that were investigated by police.

Among them was a report in 1963 that a live-in domestic worker at the Eden Park home raised concerns after being disturbed at night by sudden and violent screams and also noticed that the bed sheets of some boys were blood stained.

Police investigated but no further action was taken, counsel assisting Sophie David, SC, told the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse on Wednesday.

Taking Families SA deputy chief executive Etienne Scheepers through his evidence, David also detailed other incidents including one in 1940 when a Salvation Army ensign was jailed for indecent conduct and 29 boys were removed from the school.

That incident prompted the state government to “abolish” Eden Park as a suitable venue for the placement of state wards.

There was also an incident in 1982 when a social worker suspected three boys had been sexually abused.

Despite all these incidents there were years when no government officials inspected the home, including a period from 1945 to 1952 and from 1976 until Eden Park closed in 1982.

The commission is continuing with evidence still to come from victims of abuse at Salvation Army homes at Bayswater and Box Hill in Victoria and at Nedlands in WA.

-with AAP