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About child care and protection | Chronology of institutions | Select list of records | Records of fostering

This Archives in Brief (AIB) provides a brief overview of the major sources held by State Records that relate to child care and protection for the period c.1801-1912.
Additional records may be identified in Archives Investigator.

About child care and protection by NSW Government

The activity of child care and protection was established in the Colony of New South Wales (NSW) by 1801. The role of and the institutions managed by government in carrying out this activity changed over time. Initially care was provided for orphans and destitute children by the establishment of schools and asylums. The activity of care also included managing and arranging apprenticeships and placement in domestic service.

In many cases the government provided funding to private organizations, such as the Roman Catholic and Protestant churches, for providing care and implementing Acts and regulations.

With the introduction of the 1866 Act to Establish Juvenile Reformatories the government provided separate care for children found guilty of punishable of offences.

The system of 'boarding-out' was introduced under the State Children's Relief Act 1881 which also regulated care for children in private homes licensed to receive children.

More detail on government child care and protection can be found in Archives Investigator.

Chronology of institutions established for child care and protection Select list of records

This list of records covers the period c. 1801-1912. Records older than 100 years are open to public access.

Orphan School records

Orphan School records are listed in the Archives Investigator under the agency headings Archives Investigator under the agency headings:

• Trustees of the Clergy and School Lands in the Colony of NSW;
• Commissioners [of the Clergy and School Lands in the Colony of NSW] and
• Protestant Orphan School.

These include:

Series	*ARK
NRS 782 Applications for admission into the Orphan Schools, 1825-33; [4/330-32]; Reel 2776
NRS 783 Applications for children out of the Orphan Schools, 1825-33; [4/333-35]; Reel 2776-77
NRS 796 Male Orphan School; Admission books, 1819-1847; [ML C200] [4/7208, 4/352-53]; Fiche 3307, Reels 2908, 2777.
NRS 798 Male Orphan School; Indentures of Apprenticeship, 1822-33; [4/390]; Reel 1484
Male Orphan School; Letter book, 21 Dec 1829-6 Dec 1849; [ML C201]; Reel 2908
NRS 793 Female Orphan School; Admission books, 1817-32; [4/350-51]; Reel 2777
NRS 12266 Protestant Orphan School, Admission Book (female), 1827-86; [4/10585]; COD 506, and
NRS 12266 Protestant Orphan School, Admission Book (Male), 1850-86; [4/10786]; Reel 3702, COD 540.

Correspondence and petitions for children in Orphan schools

Correspondence and petitions from parents and/or prospective employers to have children admitted into or removed from the schools may also be found in the Colonial Secretary's records. See the online Index to the Colonial Secaretary's papers, 1788-1825 and Archives in Brief No. 64 and Archives in Brief No. 65.

Returns of Orphan School children

The Colonial Secretary's Special Bundle list also contains references to the orphan schools, including returns. This list is available in both reading rooms and online on the Colonial Secretary Guide. It includes:

Series	*ARK
List of 117 boys received into the Male Orphan Institution, 1819-24, [4/7208]; Reel 1477, Fiche 3307.
Institute for Destitute Roman Catholic Children - monthly returns, 1845-46, [4/7197] and
Returns of the Roman Catholic Orphan School, Parramatta, 1850-54, [4/7378].

Index to Orphan School records

An index to a number of orphan school records is being progessively added to the website.

Randwick Asylum records

Series	*ARK
NRS 13362 Registers of inmates, 1852-1916; [7/3796-800]; Reels 1865-1868.

The register of inmates for the Randwick Asylum for destitute children is indexed online.

Nautical Training Ship records

The records of the Vernon and Sobraon Training Ships are listed in Archives Investigator under the heading Nautical School-ship 'Vernon' (1867-92)/Nautical School-ship 'Sobraon' (1892-1911). These include:

Series	*ARK
NRS 3906 Vernon; Entrance Books, 1867-97; [8/1740-46]; Reels 2884-2887
NRS 3902 Sobraon; Entrance Books, 1897-1911; [8/1747]; Reels 2888-2890 and
NRS 3904 Sobraon; Placement book, 1904-11; [8/1752]; Reel 2890.

Researchers should also consult: NRS 3851 Department of Education, Correspondence Branch. Copies of letters sent concerning the administration of public schools, 1880-96; [1/727, 1/729-30, 1/1019-1148]. These include admission of children into the Orphan Schools and the apprenticeship of children in the Reform Schools.

An Index to the Admittance and Discharge Books for the Vernon and Sobraon, Fiche 5725 (compiled by the Australian Genealogical Education Centre, Kiama, NSW) is available in both reading rooms.

Industrial School records

The records from the Industrial School for Girls Newcastle, Biloela (Cockatoo Island) and the establishments at Parramatta are listed in Archives Investigator. They include:

Series	*ARK
NRS 14722 Registers of warrants received, Aug 1867-1942; [5/3428, 5/4857]
NRS 14725 Daily admission and discharge registers, Sept 1897-Oct 1942; [5/3426-7, 5/4840] and
NRS 14717 Copies of letters sent by the Superintendent, 1868-1909; [5/3429-34]. There are gaps in the correspondence.

Reformatory School and Farm Home records

Series	*ARK
NRS 2438 Shaftesbury Girls' Reformatory; Roll of inmates, 1888-97; [8/1757], and
NRS 13361 Farm Home for Boys, Mittagong; Registers of committals, 1907-21; [8/1755-56]. The index to the registers can be searched online.

'Boarding-out' records

The records are listed in the Archives Investigator under State Children's Relief Board. These include:

Series	*ARK
NRS 13358 Dependent children registers Index to Females 1900-23; [11/22094-130]; Fiche 7003-7317 and
NRS 13359 Index to Wards, 1901-13; [11/22131-32]; Fiche 7318-7342.

In addition, we hold the Card index to the Dependent Children registers, 1900-23; [6/24722-24741]; Fiche 2001-2052. Researchers may also wish to consult Index to Children in the care of the State Children's Relief Department as of 5 April 1883, indexed and published by Susan Lark, and available in both reading rooms.

Records of fostering

The Department of Community Services holds records relating to the fostering of children from 1880 onwards. All requests for information on fostering, adoption and State wards should be directed:

Department of Community Services
Telephone: (02) 9716 2662

*ARK signifies that a copy of the record or guide is part of the Archives Resources Kit and is held by the community access points.

© State of New South Wales through the State Records Authority, 2003.
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