Child Migrants: Accessing records held by Commonwealth and State Archives

March 2010

Contents

Overview

In response to the Senate Inquiry on Child Migration titled Lost Innocents: Righting the Record, the Council of Federal State and Territory Archives has compiled this guide to help child migrants and their families access records that may relate to their experiences.

Access regimes in Commonwealth and State jurisdictions vary greatly from one another.  This guide provides details on the access regime in place for each Archive and outlines the procedures a researcher needs to follow to gain access to the records.  In some jurisdictions, the Archive controls access to the records which may be restricted or closed until they are of a certain age (eg 30 years or longer).  In other jurisdictions, the Archive acts as the custodian of the records and applicants need to contact the agency that created the records or has responsibility for them directly to apply for access.

A detailed discussion of the history of British child migration to Australia can be found in Good British Stock: Child and Youth Migration to Australia, which was published by the National Archives of Australia in 1999. Details can be found at: https://www.naa.gov.au/help-your-research/research-guides/good-british-stock-child-and-youth-migration-australia. You can also download the PDF here.

The guide also includes a list of organisations that can assist child migrants find more information about their families.

Records In Commonwealth And State Archives

Records on child migration were created by the Commonwealth government and the State governments.  The Territory governments do not hold records on child migration.  The types of records that were created vary greatly depending on the responsibility of the particular government involved.  The Commonwealth records related to individual child and youth migrants are essentially those concerned with their entry into Australia, such as evidence of their entry (passenger lists) and their applications for immigration and citizenship.  Records maintained by State governments relate to day-to-day care of child migrants once they had arrived in Australia.  Policy files provide an insight into the operations of the various schemes and homes.

Commonwealth Government

Child migration policy files which cover issues such as the various schemes, agreements with governments and private organisations, inquiries and financial arrangements.

Immigration case files (usually known as migrant selection documents) for most individual child migrants.

Ship’s passenger lists and ship’s nominal rolls.

Naturalisation files.

Photographs.

State Governments

Policy or operational files relating to particular schemes and homes.

Immigrant children’s files.

Registers of arrivals and discharge of immigrant children.

Escort reports.

Nominal rolls for orphanages and children’s homes.

Returns of employment changes.

Admission and discharge records of homes.

Non-Government records

Records were created by the various non-government organisations, homes and schools that provided services for child migrants and in most cases you will need to approach the non-government organisations concerned.  The level of detail recorded and the quantity and type of records retained varies.

Accessing Commonwealth Records

The Archives Act 1983 (Commonwealth) provides a legally enforceable right of access to Commonwealth records once they reach the open access period.  The majority of records pertaining to former child migrants are now available. Where Commonwealth records contain information that is not suitable for public release under the Archives Act (for example, sensitive personal information), access is given only to the subject of the record or their authorised representative.

Commonwealth records not yet in the open period are generally available to the subject of the record under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Commonwealth) and the Privacy Act 1988 (Commonwealth).

For all reference inquiries, contact:
Tel: 1300 886 881
Fax:1300 886 882
https://www.naa.gov.au/visit-us/contact-us

PO Box 7425
CANBERRA BUSINESS CENTRE
ACT 2610

Records on child migrants held by National Archives of Australia

The research guide published by the National Archives, Good British Stock – Child and Youth Migration to Australia, provides a comprehensive description and listing of the records held by the National Archives about child migration and about individual child migrants. The guide is available:

In electronic form on the National Archives website at – https://www.naa.gov.au/help-your-research/research-guides/good-british-stock-child-and-youth-migration-australia Consulting the website and the guide is free;

The first two chapters of the guide introduce Australian immigration policy and child migration policy. Chapter 3 gives a detailed description of the main policy records, and of the records relating to the service organisations and churches who sponsored the children, provided for their education and placement and arranged their after-care. Chapter 4 outlines records on various schemes and homes held by the National Archives that are relevant for genealogical research related to child migration.  These include:

Child migration policy The Dreadnought Scheme
YMCA youth migration Youth migration to SA, TAS, QLD, WA
Boy Scout youth migration Young Australia League youth migration
Fairbridge Farm Schools Lady Northcote Farm School
Dr Barnardo’s Homes The Big Brother Movement
The Roman Catholic Church The Church of England
The Salvation Army The Methodist Church
The Presbyterian Church Jewish child migration
The Children’s Overseas Reception Board Scheme

The appendices include information about the organisations and individuals involved in juvenile migration, and about the record holdings of other archives and libraries. In addition, there is information about organisations which assist former child migrants to find family members, and suggestions for areas where further research is needed into juvenile migration to Australia.

Accessing New South Wales Records

Access to the majority of records relating to child migration in NSW, while held by State Records, is provided through Community Services. Community Services has made access directions that close case files from general public access for 100 years and registers to case files for 80 years. Most administrative records are open to public access after 30 years.

The Department provides individuals free access to their own records. Community Services’ website contains information for individuals wishing to access their own records and for those seeking to use the records for other research purposes. See: http://www.community.nsw.gov.au/about_us/freedom_of_information_foi.html?s=1114713960.

Records on child migrants held by the State Records Authority of NSW

Archives in Brief 91: 20th century child and youth migration provides a useful starting point for researching this topic. It includes a brief historical overview and a list of the most relevant records in the collection.

The contact details for the State Records Authority of NSW are:

PO Box 516
Kingswood NSW 2747 AUSTRALIA
Tel: (02) 9673 1788
Fax: (02) 9833 4518 �
Email: info@records.nsw.gov.au
www.records.nsw.gov.au/

Select list of sources

All the records listed are held at the Western Sydney Records Centre, 143 O’Connell St Kingswood NSW.

Department of Community Services, Licensing Branch: NRS 14782; Immigrant children’s files, 1947-76, [7/2036A–2049B], [10/37264–74], [3/7829–50], [19/8455.3], [7/8652.2–8655] (22 cartons, 44 boxes)-
These files relate to young people entering the country who were under 21 years of age and had no parent or blood relative responsible for them in Australia. These migrants, sponsored by organisations such as the Big Brother Movement and Dr Barnardo’s Homes, were supervised by Child Welfare Officers when they were placed in the community. The files include medical reports, reports on the immigrant children and correspondence relating to their placement.

Department of Community Services, Licensing Branch: NRS 1211; Immigration files, 1946–74, [8/2426] (1 box)
These files contain correspondence between Commonwealth departments, relevant charitable institutions and State government departments, including the Immigration Division of the Chief Secretary’s Department, the Department of Tourist Activities and the Treasury. The subjects dealt with are child migration to Australia and the funding of the hostels to house them. These files comprise:

Big Brother Movement – Homebush Hostel, Gunning House, 7 July 1950–November 1968; Burwood Hostel, November 1963–December 1973; War Memorial Farm, Fairfield, 9 October 1946–November 1968; Dr Barnardo’s Homes – Greenwood, Normanhurst, 29 June 1960–1 June 1970; Maintenance Payments – Child Migration General Policy, 8 June 1950–20 December 1972; Fairbridge Farm Schools – Molong, 12 February 1948–20 November 1974.

Department of Community Services, Licensing Branch: NRS 14783; Registers of the arrival and discharge of immigrant children 1953–56 and 1960–64, [18/1238.1] (2 volumes)

These registers have entries recording monthly arrivals and discharges of immigrant children. The arrival entries generally give names, ages and whether the child was nominated by an individual or sponsored by an organisation, such as Fairbridge, Big Brother or Dr Barnardo’s. The discharge entries give name, age, type of nomination, and reason for discharge from guardianship. Statistics separated into three age groups of boys and girls are included.

Department of Community Services, Licensing Branch: NRS 14784; Miscellaneous correspondence files relating to immigrant children, 1971–74, [18/1238.2] (1 bundle)
There are three files in this series. Two concern correspondence with officials of the Big Brother and Dr Barnardo’s schemes. The third file relates to a District Officer’s investigation of a complaint by a child sponsored by the Big Brother Scheme.

Department of Community Services, Licensing Branch: NRS 14785; Files concerning the arrival of immigrant children sponsored by the Big Brother Scheme, 1965–73, [18/1238.4–1240] (3 boxes)
These files relate to the arrival of ‘Little Brothers’ in New South Wales. The files contain a notification from the New South Wales Immigration Division of the boys’ impending arrival, giving date, flight number or ship’s name, and the names and ages of the boys. The results of later medical examinations are included, as well as a signed declaration from the Executive Director of the Big Brother Movement accepting custody of the boys.

Department of Community Services, Licensing Branch: NRS 17486; Returns of employment changes made by young persons sponsored by the Fairbridge Farm Scheme, 1968–69, [18/1238.3] (1 bundle)
These weekly returns were sent by the Principal of the Fairbridge Farm School to the Department. The information includes name, date of new employment, category of wages and home address. The returns were signed by the Principal and include the children’s departmental file numbers.

Department of Community Services, Licensing Branch: NRS 14787; Depots, homes and hostel files, 1971–73, [3/1735–37], [8/2314–15], [8/2242] (6 boxes)
These files contain applications for licences to conduct a depot, home or hostel. On 1 November 1969, amendments to Part VII of the Child Welfare Act became effective, and, as a result, all places defined as a Depot, Home or Hostel which provided residential care for six or more children up to 16 years of age had to be licensed in terms of the new provisions. These files give full details of the facilities offered, staff and their qualifications, proposed alterations to premises, etc. Correspondence regarding the application and correspondence from the individuals concerned is also included.

Department of Community Services, Licensing Branch: NRS 14789; Immigrants children’s index, n.d. [19/14974-77]
This index, arranged alphabetically, records the name of child, place and date of birth, religion, date and means of arrival in Australia, sponsor, details of parents, and particulars of placements and movements.

Department of Community Services, Licensing Branch; NRS 14790; Immigration nomination (Minor ‘E’) files, 1962-72 [10/37275-76, 7/2050A-2054B, 3/7778-7828, 19/8455.2, 7/8651-8652.1] 14 boxes (part), 51 cartons
These files relate to the nomination of immigrants, who are under 21 years of age, by sponsors who were resident in New South Wales. The files refer to such matters as the accommodation provided by the sponsor and the general welfare of the immigrant after arrival.

Industrial Relations; NRS 5529; Photographs of Scheyville Training Farm, c. 1926-23 Jun 1946
The photographs show views of the Training Farm, interiors and exteriors of buildings, an architect’s perspective sketch dated 1928 and farm workers engaged in agricultural and livestock related activities.

Images are accessible through the search bar at: https://mhnsw.au/collections/state-archives-collection/

Accessing Queensland Records

Records held by the Queensland State Archives are subject to restricted access periods which can vary in duration.  The access periods are determined by the responsible public authority in consultation with the State Archivist and in accordance with relevant regulations, legislation and standards. Information contained in the records can be considered sensitive and the restricted access periods are based on the premise that the sensitivity declines over time. Restricted access periods may be up to 30 years, up to 65 years, up to 100 years or beyond and commence from the day of the last action on a record.

Records held by Queensland State Archives can be viewed in the public search room at:

Queensland State Archives
435 Compton Road
RUNCORN QLD

The search room is open from 9.00 am to 4.30 pm Monday to Friday and also, the second Saturday of each month.  Researchers are required to have a Reader’s Ticket which can be obtained at the reception on arrival.  Two forms of identification are required and one needs to contain a signature.  A Reference Archivist is available to assist with the searching and use of records.  There are no charges unless copies of records are required.  More information about the facilities and services available can be found at:

https://www.qld.gov.au/recreation/arts/heritage/archives

The contact details for the Queensland State Archives are:

PO Box 1397
SUNNYBANK HILLS
QLD 4109

Tel: (07) 3131 7777
Fax: (07) 3131 7764
Email: info@archives.qld.gov.au
https://www.qld.gov.au/recreation/arts/heritage/archives

 

Records on child migrants held by Queensland State Archives

Immigration Department

Correspondence re administration of Farm Learners’ Scheme. Includes boys’ scheme, local lads, farm workers’ award, circa 1/01/1922 – circa 31/12/1935, QSA Item ID18459

Correspondence re applications for farm learners, circa 1/01/1938 – circa 31/12/1940, QSA Item ID18771

Advice of Booking Notices for passage to Queensland, and Indenture and/or Lad’s Agreement Forms of farm learners, and Migrant Agreement Forms of other migrants to repay passage money, circa 1/01/1922  – circa 31/12/1940, QSA Item ID18770

Papers of Interstate Conferences of the New Settlers League, reports of annual meetings and miscellaneous papers, circa 1/01/1924 – circa 31/12/1936, QSA Item ID18731

Papers of the New Settlers League Annual State Conference, circa 1/01/1922 – circa 31/12/1924, QSA Item ID18617

Papers of the New Settlers League Annual State Conference, circa 1/01/1925 – circa 31/12/1934, Item ID18618

New Settlers League correspondence related to immigrants, circa 1/01/1923 – circa 31/12/1948, Series ID13072

Foreign migration, New Settlers League, regarding the employment of migrants in the sugar industry, railway fares, freight car hire, establishment of hostels for migrants in country centres, circa 1/01/1952 – circa 31/12/1956, QSA Item ID269115

Premier’s Department

Correspondence re the immigration of lads as farm learners, sponsored by the Church Army. Includes pamphlet “Friends of the Poor” 7th report (1911-1912), 24p.; correspondence with Lads’ Immigration Bureau, Anglican Church Mission, 24/02/1910 – 20/04/1923, QSA Item ID861858

Correspondence regarding immigration of lads as farm learners, 5/05/1922 – 17/11/1925, QSA Item ID 861859

Correspondence re the immigration of lads as farm learners. Includes procedures for Immigrant Agent and New Settlers’ League to follow, 23/02/1924 – 19/12/1929 , QSA Item ID861860

Correspondence re the immigration of lads as farm learners, 10/01/1930 – 17/08/1932 , Item ID 861861

Correspondence re the immigration of lads as farm learners. Includes Salvation Army Emigration – Colonization Department correspondence, publications, and notes on the training farm, Riverview; lists of boys’ names and where placed, 23 February 1922 – 2 January 1936, QSA Item ID861862

Correspondence re the immigration of lads as farm learners. Includes Church of England Immigration Council correspondence and report, 1928; Canon Garland’s nomination scheme, 15/03/1924 – 31/05/1928, QSA Item ID861863

Correspondence re the immigration of lads as farm learners. Includes Church of England Immigration Council correspondence. Also includes report re operations of New Settlers’ League and other migration bodies, 22/12/1927 – 28/07/1930 , QSA Item ID861864

Correspondence re adverse reports on certain lads brought out as farm learners, 12 June 1923–8 February 1928, QSA Item ID861865

Correspondence re deaths, accidents, illnesses etc of lads brought out as farm learners, 9 November 1923–6 May 1930, QSA Item ID861866

Commission of Inquiry into Abuse of Children in Queensland Institutions (please note: Access category of 60 years apply to the following records)

Operational file – Child Migrants Trust – Institution – Correspondence, circa 31/08/1998 – circa 23/04/1999, QSA Item ID653317

Operational file – International Association of Former Child Migrants and their Families – Institution – Submission, circa 31/08/1998 – circa 18/09/1998, QSA Item ID653280

Operational file – Queensland Association of Former British Child Migrants, circa 31/08/1998 – circa 9/10/1998, QSA Item ID653240,

Operational file – The Child Migrant’s Trust – Submission, circa 31/08/1998 – circa 18/09/1999, QSA Item ID653348

Notice to produce – Department of Families, Youth and Community Care – Child Migrants Matrons, 22/12/1998 – 6/01/1999, QSA Item ID653884,

Working file – International Association of Former Child Migrants and their Families, 31/08/1998 -18/09/1998, QSA Item ID 41931

Working file – Queensland Association of Former British Child Migrants, 31/08/1998 – 9/10/1998, QSA Item ID841892

Working file – The Child Migrant’s Trust, 31/08/1998 – 14/04/1999, QSA Item ID842149

Accessing South Australian Records

Records held by State Records of South Australia can be viewed in either of our two Research Centres. Both Research Centres are open to the public on Tuesday to Friday, between 9.30 am and 3.30pm.  The Gepps Cross Research Centre is open to the public on the first Sunday of each month, between 11.00am and 5.00pm.

A Reference Officer is on duty during our public opening hours to provide advice to researchers.

Before any records can be viewed, researchers are required to be registered. They will then be issued with a Research Centre Membership Card.  There are no charges for the registration but identification, such as a Driver’s Licence, Pension Card or Student ID is required.  A limited copying service is available.

Records held by State Records of South Australia can be open for public access at any time after their creation.  In general, they are open between 20 and 100 years after creation depending on the sensitivity of the information they contain.  See below for contact details for State Records.

State Records
26-28 Leigh Street
Adelaide  SA

State Records
115-117 Cavan Road
Gepps Cross  SA

Postal address for both Research Centres

GPO Box 2343

Adelaide SA 5001
Tel; (08) 8204 8791 for both Research Centres
Fax: (08) 8204 8777
Email: staterecords@sa.gov.au
Website: www.archives.sa.gov.au

Records about child migrants held by State Records of South Australia

The records listed below are those for the principal schemes involving most young immigrants.

GRG 7/6 – Applications by youths for assisted passage as farm apprentices (Barwell Boys), 1922-24 (index available)
This series consists of completed application forms giving personal details, address in the United Kingdom, referees, name of parent or guardian, date of arrival in South Australia and the name of the ship. Files also contain correspondence between the applicant and the Immigration Department once the applicant arrived in South Australia.

GRG 7/7 – Applications by youths for assisted passage as boy migrants – “Big Brother Movement”, 1927-29 (partial index available).

This series consists of completed application forms, including personal details, address in the United Kingdom, referees, name of parent or guardian, date of arrival in South Australia and name of the ship. Files also contain correspondence between applicant and Immigration Department once youth had arrived in South Australia.

GRG 7/9 – Applications for assisted passage by farm youths, agricultural workers and agricultural settlers, 1921-30 (index available)

This series consists of completed application forms with personal details, address in the United Kingdom, referees, name of parent or guardian etc., date of arrival in South Australia and name of the ship.  It also contains some applications from women.

GRG 29/122 – Release orders under Immigration (Guardianship of Children) Act (index available)

This series consists of completed application forms giving personal details, address in the United Kingdom, referees, name of parent or guardian, date of arrival in South Australia and the name of the ship.  Also contains correspondence between the child and the Department and between the Department and the farmer with whom the child worked.

Other records relating to child migrants may be located by researching the following Government Record Groups (GRG):

  • GRG 7 – Immigration, Publicity and Tourism Department
  • GRG 28 – Destitute Persons Department
  • GRG29 – Social Welfare Department

Accessing Tasmanian Records

All case files and indexes listed here have either a 50 or 75-year access restriction. The administrative files (AD203) have a 25-year access restriction. If you require access to the records of the Department of Social Welfare you should apply to:

Secretary
Department of Health and Human Services
Davey Street, Hobart
Tasmania, 7000.

For access to the records of the State Immigration Office or the Fairbridge Society you should write, in the first instance, to:

State Archivist
Archives Office of Tasmania
77 Murray Street, Hobart
Tasmania 7000.

Tel: (03) 6233 7488
Fax: (03) 6233 7471
Email: libraries.tas@libraries.tas.gov.au
https://libraries.tas.gov.au/

Records on child migrants held by Archives Office of Tasmania

The records of the State Immigration Office document the nomination and arrival of the child migrants:

Index to personal nominations, 1946–81, AA60
This is an index to people nominated under the various joint immigration agreements between the United Kingdom and Australian governments. Some subject cards such as Boys Town, Big Brother Movement and Fairbridge Society children can be found in this series. The cards contain details such as occupation, age, address in England, names of family members, departure and arrival dates and name of the ship on which the migrant arrived. The name of the nominator is included, as are file numbers for the nominator and migrant files.

Migrant files, 1946–81, AA59
This series consists of case files of all nominated migrants.

The records created after arrival can be found in the case files of the Department of Social Welfare:

File guide to correspondence records, c.1970–c.1990, AD247

Correspondence records, 1919–93, AD203 (see file no. 14 for administrative records relating to child migrants)

Index to case files of the Child Welfare Division, c.1950–c.1970, SWD61

Applications and associated correspondence relating to the custody and welfare of children under various Acts, including child migration, c.1922–c.1981, AA226
This series is a merger of several series of case files into two alphabetical sequences (see also SWD66 below).

Case files of the Child Welfare Division, c.1944–70, SWD66
These files are identical to those in AA226 (see above) but were removed from this sequence when a separate Child Welfare Division was created within the Department. Files relating to child migrants are included in this series.

Record cards of ‘non-citizen’ children including children arriving under the Child Migration Scheme, 1950–68, 1970–78, AD256
These cards contain summary information on the welfare of British and non-British child migrants including the name and address of the person with whom they were living.

Correspondence concerning children brought to Tasmania under the auspices of the Overseas Children’s Reception Committee, 1940–45, SWD60
These case files relate to children who were brought to Tasmania by the Overseas Children’s Reception Committee. The children were to remain in Tasmania for the duration of the war, or such lesser period as might be deemed necessary in the interests of both parties.

Master index to case files, c.1920–c.1989, AD204
This is the master index to applications and associated correspondence relating to the custody and welfare of children under various acts, including child migration.

Records of the Fairbridge Drake Society, 1925–77, NS1438
The Fairbridge Society home for orphaned British migrant children and migrant children with one parent living was established at Exeter, Northern Tasmania in 1957. The home was closed in November 1976. In 1991 with the approval of the President of the Fairbridge Drake Society, London, the Tasmanian records of the society were deposited in the Archives Office of Tasmania. Access to the records is restricted for 100 years in line with the access conditions determined for the British records of the Society, which are housed at the University of Liverpool. Among the records is a family register, 1958–76, and 13 case files, c.1965–76.

Accessing Victorian Records

The records listed below are closed to general public access. Access to the records may be provided by the controlling agency, the Department of Human Services, through a Freedom of Information request.  An application form can be accessed from the Department’s website or the FOI unit can post one out.  The FOI unit will also accept a letter outlining the details of the request.

The request should clearly set out the document(s) that are required from the Department and provide sufficient detail so that they can be identified. Proof of identity of the applicant (e.g. driver’s licence, passport or health care card) is required to gain access to documents that contain their personal information.  There is also an application fee that must be paid before the request is processed.

FOI applications can be made by contacting:

Department of Human Services
GPO Box 4057
MELBOURNE VIC 3000
Ph: (03) 9616 9910
Fax: (03) 9616 8848

Further information regarding FOI requests with the Department of Human Services can be found at the website address: https://prov.vic.gov.au/freedom-information-act-statement and at https://prov.vic.gov.au/contact-us

Records on child migrants held by Public Record Office Victoria

Child migration files, 1947–71 (Series in Custody 1947-1968), VPRS 10092 (CLOSED)
These files document both the assessment of applications to nominate British and alien minors and the subsequent administration of legal guardianship of those minors by the Children’s Welfare Department, Family Welfare Division and subsequently the Social Welfare Branch (1962-1971). Files documenting the administration of legal guardianship include considerable personal information about minors and their custodians. Documentation on the files includes reports of social workers, parents, custodians, employers, vocational guidance officers, teachers and doctors.

Children’s Overseas Reception Board files, 1940–45, VPRS 10093 (CLOSED)
The series comprises client files of children evacuated from the United Kingdom during World War II and some files relating to the administration of the scheme. Upon arrival in Victoria the children were boarded with private families. The Children’s Welfare Department oversaw the allocation of the children to their custodians and their subsequent maintenance and welfare. Most of the files in the series comprise case documentation including: application of the custodian to accept evacuated children; evacuation and travel reports regarding the children (eg vaccinations, medical reports); departmental inspectors’ reports (eg health, behaviour, adjustment, suitability of nominators); school reports; and social worker reports.

Accessing Western Australian Records

Many of the records held by State Records relating to child and youth migration were created by the Child Welfare Department and its predecessor the State Children’s Department. Due to their sensitive nature, records of the former Child Welfare Department that contain client information are restricted records.

Once the records have been identified by visiting the State Records Office, permission to view or copy these records must be sought by contacting the Department of Family and Children’s Services.

To make a request either send a letter to the department providing details of the record(s) required or fill in the application form (entitled ‘Application for search of records held in state archives’) which is available from the State Records Office Search Room and send to:

Director-General
Department of Family and Children’s Services
PO Box 6334
East Perth 6004

Records from other government departments can also be subject to access restrictions due to the sensitive nature of the material they contain. Access restrictions are generally determined by arrangement between the State Records Office and the agency responsible for creating the record and are applied at the series level.

Researchers can visit the search room or contact the State Records Office for information on the access status of government archives. If the records are unrestricted then they can be viewed in the Search Room.  For restricted series, application forms for access are available from the search room.

State Records Office
Alexander Library Building
Perth Cultural Centre
PERTH WA 6000

Tel: (08) 9427 3360
Fax: (08) 9427 3368
https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/state-records-office-of-western-australia

Records on child migrants held by State Records Office of WA

Child Welfare Department, 1927–72, AN 145, AN 320
Files on child migration are located within the main series of Child Welfare Department registered files. These records include policy and administration files, funding, approvals and inspection of institutions, nomination and guardianship forms, and liaison with institutions and groups associated with child migration (eg the Big Brother Movement). Also included are indentures and employment agreements for child migrants. Many Child Welfare administrative files were re-registered as Department for Community Welfare files prior to their transfer to the State Records Office.

Policy and administration, AN 145, Accession 1031

1921, AN 145/2376 (2 vols), AN 145/2748; 1922, AN 145/1095; 1927, AN 145/772, AN 145/891, AN 145/973 (vols 1, 5); 1928, AN 145/116, AN 145/496; 1931, AN 145/2181; 1934, AN 145/286; 1937, AN 145/366; 1938, AN 145/619; 1940, AN 145/358, AN 145/632, AN 145/593; 1941, AN 145/41, AN 145/305; 1944, AN 145/300, AN 145/515; 1945, AN 145/524; 1946, AN 145/607 (vols 5, 6); 1947, AN 145/542, AN 145/685; 1949, AN 145/975; 1951, AN 145/852; 1952, AN 145/665; 1953, AN 145/1163, AN 145/1309; 1955, AN 145/350; 1956, AN 145/46, AN 145/212

Maltese child migrants, 1952, AN 145/1358

Nomination forms and guardianship records, 1952, AN 145/1027

Benmore, 1946, AN 145/1073

Burnbrae, 1952, AN 145/1314

Castledare, 1927, AN 145/1078; 1934, AN 145/76; 1947, AN 145/938; 1948, AN 145/160 (vol. 5)

Clontarf, 1922, AN 145/1405 (3 vols), AN 145/715 (2 vols); 1926, AN 145/1523; 1927, AN 145/913 (2 vols); 1947, AN 145/937; 1955, AN 145/1951

Fairbridge Farm School, 1921, AN 145/667; 1924, AN 145/1414; 1927, AN 145/159; 1930, AN 145/926; 1952, AN 145/1399

Methodist Boys Farm, 1929, AN 145/1291

Methodist Homes, 1952, AN 145/1313

Nazareth House, 1940, AN 145/1425; 1942, AN 145/219; 1947, AN 145/940

St Joseph’s, 1922?, AN 145/1613; 1925, AN 145/719; 1953, AN 145/1808

St Joseph’s, Kellerberrin, 1952, AN 145/929

St Joseph’s, Subiaco, 1947, AN 145/939

Salvation Army Home, Gosnells, 1945, AN 145/851

St Mary’s Agricultural School, Tardun, 1929, AN 145/565; 1947, AN 145/936 (vols 1, 2)

Policy and administration, AN 320, Accession 1417

Policy and procedure, A56 (vols 1–5), A256, A3309

Nominations, A184 (vols 1, 2)

Benmore, A4249

Burnbrae, A3404

Clontarf, A53

St Joseph’s Farm and Trade School, Bindoon, A4256

Policy and administration, AN 320, Accession 2532

Reports and liaison between Nathaniel Harper Homes, A66

Immigration – migrant children boarded out – recoup of subsidy from the British Government, A135

Western Australian Child Welfare Departments Annual Reports, A366 (vols 1–3)

Policy and administration, AN 320, Accession 2606

Clontarf Boys Accident Appeal, 1957/1640 (2 vols)

Policy and administration, AN 320, Accession 2607

Big Brother Movement, A155

Nominations, A184 (vols 3, 4)

Wards – Ministerial approval for variation of treatment, A191 (vols 1–4)

Institutions – Clontarf, A215 (vols 1, 2)

Capitation Grants to institutes and foster mothers, A231 (vols 1–4)

Wards resident in institutions, A306

Nominal roll of unaccompanied migrant children, A317 (vols 1, 2)

Act and Regulations, Section 118 – day-to-day care policy. Children under six years of age, A609 (vol. 1)

Policy and administration, AN 320, Accession 2608

Castledare junior orphanage policy and procedure, reports and correspondence, A2260 (vol. 1)

Hostel, Tudor Lodge, Mt Lawley, establishment legislation – Immigration, Guardianship of Children Act, 1946–73, A3029 (vol. 1)

Policy and administration, AN 320, Accession 2868

Indentures – child migrants, 14 items, six on microfilm

Western Australia Immigration Department, AN 228
There is a small number of Immigration Department files from 1910 to 1959 which document state immigration policy, applications for funding and inspections of institutions, and files relating to specific child migration schemes and programs. There are also rolls of migrants from 1947 to 1962.

Policy and administration, AN 228, Accession 1193

1948, AN 228/896, AN 228/1644, AN 228/1949, AN 228/3744; 1949, AN228/6996; 1950, AN 228/2356; 1953, AN 228/3619; 1956, AN 228/381

Maltese children, 1956, AN 228/2433

Nomination forms and guardianship records, 1949, AN 228/5203

Institutions: Fairbridge Farm School, 1950, AN 228/2040

Lee Steere House, 1948, AN 228/591

St Joseph’s, Subiaco, 1947, AN 228/6155; 1948, AN 228/2805

St Joseph’s, Bindoon, 1948, AN 228/3141

Department of Lands and Surveys, AN 3

This agency administered the State Immigration Department from the early 1920s until 1973. As with Child Welfare Department records, the files on migration schemes are interspersed throughout the main departmental registered file series. The records include policy and administration files, nomination forms, guardianship records and records relating to specific schemes (AN 3, WAA 42 and WAS 211).

Policy and administration, AN 3, Accession 541

1912, AN 3/4330; 1927, AN 3/6569; 1933, AN 3/102; 1947, AN 3/2201; 1948, AN 3/444, AN 3/482; 1950, AN 3/6269

Nomination forms and guardianship forms

1934, AN 3/296, AN 3/297, AN 3/1360, AN 3/1825, AN 3/2152, AN 3/2736; 1935, AN 3/123, AN 3/1568, AN 3/2176, AN 3/2604; 1937, AN 3/369; 1946, AN 3/4185, AN 3/4186, AN 3/4588, AN 3/4612; 1948, AN 3/3861

Policy and administration, AN 3, Accession 1699

Permission to inter the remains of the late Kingsley Fairbridge in Fairbridge Farm, 1924, AN 3/3815

Nomination forms and guardianship records, 1931, AN 3/465

Policy and administration, AN 3, Accession 1755

Migration and settlement schemes, 1932, AN 3/1020; 1944, AN 3/766; 1948, AN 3/48

Institutions (financial assistance, etc) Roman Catholic Orphanage, Avon location 1771, 1933, AN 3/743

Procedural files, 1948, AN 3/600, AN 3/5033; 1952, AN 3/1010

Castledare, 1948, AN 3/5116

Nazareth House, 1948, AN 3/598

Tardun, 1948, AN 3/926

Victoria Park, 1947, AN 3/6490

Scheme to bring British boys out for training in rural area work (Accession 1778), 1953, AN 3/4591

Assistance to build and accommodate twenty additional boys at Swan Homes, 1955, AN 3/334

Italian child and youth migration scheme, 1955, AN 3/2772

Child migrants from Eire – policy re: (Accession 1843), 1957, AN 3/391

Other departments with an interest in migration and children include the Department of Premier and Cabinet, the Colonial or Chief Secretary’s Department, the Education Department, the Health Department and the Crown Law Department. Specific files within the Departments of Health and Education have not been identified.

Premier’s Department, AN 2, WAA 2 and WAS 36

With one exception all relevant records are located within the departmental registered file series. The records include details of proposed migration schemes, applications for assistance, investigations of the State Children’s Department and negotiations with the Commonwealth and British Governments on legislation for child migration. There is also a card register of the Children’s Overseas Reception Board and reports on the movement of children during World War II.

Overseas Children’s Reception Committee – Chairman’s reports, 1942–44, consignment 1005

Migration and settlement schemes (Accession 1496), 1922, file numbers 403, 603; 1923, file numbers 551, 599; 1932, file numbers 71, 104

Agent General – immigration of boys – appointment of Col. Chas. R Davies, 1922, file number 395

Boys Employment League (Accession 1496), 1930, file number 712; 1932, file number 354

John Curtin MHR – wanton exploitation of children at Fairbridge Farm School, 1936, file number 148

Kingsley Fairbridge – memorial at Umtali, Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) establishing of, 1949, file number 329

Institutions (government subsidies) Fairbridge Farm School, 1919, file number 252; 1927, file number 88

Colonial Secretary’s Office, AN 24

Scheme for transfer of British children to Australia during the war period (Accession 1703), 1940, file number 240

Re. child immigration and charitable bodies (Accession 1816), 1916–1919, file number 1051

Immigration. Reporting cases of mental deficiency amongst children emigrating to Western Australia (Accession 752), 1920, file number 1962

Immigration. Dr Barnardo’s Boys Homes England. Emigrating boys from (Accession 752), 1922, file number 1887

Crown Law Department, AN 47

Fairbridge Farm School, Pinjarra – control by parent society, London and Western Australian society to merge with, 1948, file number 3267

Other files relating to the evacuation of children during World War II are at WAS 1508, Card register of the Children’s Overseas Reception Board

Clontarf general correspondence & reports, 3 vols, 1031, AN 145/1, 1405/22

Mentally defective boy at Clontarf Orphanage, 1031, AN 145/1, 1523/26

Clontarf Orphanage manual of training at, 1031, AN 145/1, 913/27

Clontarf Orphanage: establishment of a Mental Health Home, ‘Castledare’, 1031, AN 145/1, 619/38

Child immigration: Roman Catholic immigration scheme, 1031, AN 145/1, 1078/27

Child welfare literature: departmental pamphlets, 1031, AN 145/1, 746/38

Visit of the Director of Child Welfare, New South Wales to advise on Child Welfare Department matters, 1031, AN 145/1, 1309/53

Castledare Junior Orphanage reports & general correspondence, 1031, AN 145/1, 763/34

Immigration: Maltese child migrants, 1031, AN 145/1, 133/58

Clontarf bus accident, 15 December 1955, 1031, AN 145/1, 1951

Mentally deficient children, Castledare Orphanage, 1031, AN 145/1, 2376/21

St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Farm School, Bindoon, 1031, AN 320/1, A4256

Child Welfare Department, Salvation Army, 1031, AN 145/1, 610/22

Child Welfare Department, Clontarf Orphanage, 1031, AN 145/1, 715/25

Castledare Orphanage: mentally or physically deficient children, 1031, AN 145/1, 101/28

Roman Catholic and Anglican subsidised institutions, 1031, AN 145/1, 366/37

Child care institutions. corporal punishment, 1031, AN 145/2, 632/40

Institutions: post-war building program, 1031, AN 145/2, 300/44

Child Welfare Department: care of children under war time conditions, 1031, AN 145/2, 515/44

Wards of the State, 1031, AN 145/2, 539/44

Lotteries Commission Western Australia, grants to institutions, 1031, AN 145/2, 957/49

Child welfare in Western Australian institutions, 1031, AN 145/2, 852/51

Tardun Farm School: establishment of, reports and general correspondence, Vol. 1, 1031, AN 145/1, 565/29

Tardun Farm School: establishment of, reports and general correspondence, Vol. 2, 1031, AN 145/1, 565/29

Child immigration: Roman Catholic immigration scheme, 1031, AN 145/1, 619/38

Proposed establishment of an industrial school for Roman Catholic boys – Bindoon, 1031, AN 145/2, 937/47

Christian Brothers Farm School, Tardun: inspections and reports, 1031, AN 145/2, 936/47

Clontarf Orphanage (RC): inspections and reports, 1031, AN 145/2, 937/47

Child migration: visit by Mr John Moss, 1031, AN 145/2, 665/52

Child migration WA: general policy and procedures, 1031, AN 145/5, 607/1946

Immigration, visit of the UK Mission, Fact-Finding Mission, 1031, AN 145/5, 46/1956

St Joseph’s Farm School, Bindoon: inspections and reports, 1031, AN 145/6, 935/1947

Review Committee reports WA, Child Welfare Department annual reports, 1946–69, 2868, 320/10, 2868/4

Boys Town, Clontarf 17 October 1947–27 October 1954, 2868, 320/10, 2868/5

Catholic Episcopal Migration and Welfare Association, 1953–60, 2868, 320/10, 2868/6

Farm School Tardun, 1947–55, 2868, 320/10, 2868/8

St Joseph’s Farm and Trade School, Bindoon, 2868, 320/10, 2868/13