Appendix 5
Information about and access to records of
former child migrants
Commonwealth Government
National Archives of Australia
The National Archives of Australia holds many records which provide
information of interest to former child migrants. The records include:
-
immigration case
files (usually known as migrant selection documents). These files commence in
1947 and contain a form (LEM3) completed in London or Malta, medical
certificate, and occasionally a school report. Some files contain a birth certificate
or extract although these were sometimes handed to State child welfare
departments. There is a file for most individuals;
-
ships passenger
lists and ships nominal rolls. These files may also contain some particulars
about the voyage, correspondence from and about passengers, news clippings and
other items; and
Archives records relating to individual child and youth migrants are
essentially those concerned with their entry into Australia rather than the
day-to-day care once they had arrived. Archives also holds a number of policy
and administrative files which contain lists of names and other details of
individual child or youth migrants. In some instances these may provide
important material for genealogical research.
The Archives’ Research Guide - Good
British Stock: Child and Youth Migration to Australia - provides details of
the relevant records (not only those of British children, but also files
relating to Maltese children and those migrated through the Polish Jewish
Relief Fund) held by the Archives, as well as a guide to other genealogical
sources.
The Guide is available from the Archives or can be accessed at:
http://www.naa.gov.au/Publications/Research_Guides/Child_Migration/child_migration.html
Contact: National
Archives of Australia
Queen Victoria Terrace
PARKES ACT
2600
Phone:
(02) 6212 3600
Fax:
(02) 6212 3699
e-mail:
archives@naa.gov.au
website:
http://www.naa.gov.au
National Archives of Australia Sydney
120 Miller Street
CHESTER
HILL NSW 2162
Phone:
(02) 9645 0110
http://www.naa.gov.au/publications/fact_sheets/fs147.html
National
Archives of Australia Brisbane
996
Wynnum Road
CANNON
HILL QLD 4000
Phone: 1300 886 881
National
Archives of Australia Adelaide
11-13
Derlanger Ave
COLLINSWOOD SA
5081
Phone:
(08) 8269 0121
Holds selected documents
on most child migrants who came to South Australia, found in series D1989 under
the name of the vessel of arrival.
National
Archives of Australia Hobart
4
Rosny Hill Road
ROSNY
PARK TAS 7018
Phone: (03) 6244 0101
National
Archives of Australia Melbourne
Casselden
Place
2
Lonsdale Street
MELBOURNE VIC
3000
Phone:
(03) 9285 7999
Holds the selection
documents for most child migrants to Victoria, located in series B4061 under
the name of the vessel of arrival.
National
Archives of Australia Perth
384
Berwick Street
EAST
VICTORIA PARK WA 6101
Phone:
(08) 9470 7500
Holds individual files
of most post-war child migrants to WA, copies of passengers lists nominal roles
& administration files.
National Library of Australia
The National Library holds microfilm records pertaining to the
Fairbridge Society (Microfilm no.1841-1845), the Dreadnought Trust (Microfilm
no.N120) and the Big Brother Movement (Microfilm no.196).
Contact: National Library of
Australia
Parkes
Place
CANBERRA ACT
2600
Phone:
(02) 6262 1111
e-mail:
www@nla.gov.au
Website: http://www.nla.gov.au
State Governments
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Family Information Records Bureau
WA Former Child Migrant
Referral Index
The Department for Family and Children’s Services has, in conjunction
with Western Australian receiving agencies, established as index of former
child migrants to Western Australia. The Western Australian Former Child
Migrant Referral Index identifies all former child migrants who came to Western
Australia from the UK and Malta from 1913 to 1968. There are 2,941 former child
migrants listed on the index, which acts as a signposting service and contains
the following information: name; alias; date of birth; date of arrival; ship;
placement; and location of records. The Index also includes information from
the UK, when available, including the sending agency and location and where any
relevant records may be held.
Contact: Family Information Records Bureau
Family and Children’s Services of Western Australia
PO Box 6334
EAST PERTH WA 6892
Free call: 1800
000 277
Library and Information Services of Western
Australia
JS Battye Library of West Australian History
State Records Office of Western
Australia
Library and Information Services of Western Australia holds files from
Fairbridge, Pinjarra. For information on access see listing under Fairbridge,
Pinjarra. The Library also has some records pertaining to Swan Homes in
microform (admission and discharge records, 1868-1960) and a collection of
photographs of Seaforth Boys’ Home in Gosnells, 1929-1931.
The State Records Office holds records from the former Child Welfare
Department, Immigration Department and Department of Lands and Surveys,
Premier’s Department and Crown Law Department which provides information of
interest to child migrants, including some inspection reports of the homes.
Access to records of the former Child Welfare Department which contain
client information is restricted. Permission from the Department for Family
& Children’s Services is required for viewing. Other records may also have
access restrictions.
Contact: Alexander
Library Building
Perth
Cultural Centre
Francis
Street
PERTH WA
6000
Phone:
(08) 9427 3360
e-mail:
info@liswa.wa.gov.au
Website: http://www.liswa.wa.gov.au
http://www.liswa.wa.gov.au/battye.html
http://www.liswa.wa.gov.au/staterecoff.html
NEW SOUTH WALES
NSW Department of Community
Services
The Department of Community Services, under its Connecting Kin project, has produced a comprehensive guide to
records to help people who were in institutional care search for their records.
Connecting Kin contains extensive
details of records of government and non-government agencies, where records are
kept and how to access them. One section of the guide details government
records pertaining to child migrants:
-
Immigrant
children’s files 1947-76;
-
Registers of
arrivals and discharge of immigrant children, 1953-56, 1960-64;
-
Files concerning
the arrival of immigrant children sponsored by the Big Brother scheme, 1965-73;
-
Returns of
employment changes made by young persons sponsored by the Fairbridge Farm
Scheme, 1968-69;
-
Immigrant
children’s index [no date];
-
Immigration
nomination (Minor ‘E’) files, 1962-76.
These files are held by the Sate Records Authority of
NSW. Permission to view or copy records containing details or individuals or
families must be sought from the Department of Community Services.
The Guide is available at: http://www.community.nsw.gov.au/document/ckguide2.pdf
The Department is also establishing a database based
on its card index. The NSW Immigrants Index will list 3,860 child and youth
migrants who arrived in NSW between 1947 and 1961. The Index will include names
of sending/receiving agency, ship and date of arrival and name of parent
(usually mother’s name). Records will also be microfiched. A review of pre-war
files held by the Department is planned. A Website is also under construction.
The NSW Government has also funded ISS to provide
tracing and counselling for NSW former child migrants.
Contact: Designated Official
Adoption Services Branch
Phone: (02)
9865 5906
State
Library of NSW
The State Library may hold records of interest to
former child migrants. The Library’s website has links to major research
resources for tracing family history in the UK.
Contact: State Library of NSW
State Reference Library
Macquarie Street
SYDNEY NSW
2000
Phone: (02) 9273 1313
E-mail: srl@slnsw.gov.au
Website: http://www.slnsw.gov.au
VICTORIA
The Department of Human Services
Adoption Information Service
and Archival Services
The Department of Human Services provides the following support to all
Victorian former child migrants:
-
information
regarding procedures for records searching, both in Victoria and in the United
Kingdom
-
short term
counselling on grief and separation issues
-
assistance in
understanding the information in retrieved, historical records
-
pre and post
reunion counselling.
This service is located within the Adoption
Information Service.
Archival Services has processed all relevant Victorian
Government records into sequential order by policy file/client name. All client
names have been entered into the Archival Services database to enable quick
retrieval and matching to boxed records.
The Adoption Information Service will help former
child migrants apply under the Freedom of Information Act for access to their
Departmental files. If these records show that a person was placed with a
specific non-government organisation, Archival Services can contact that
organisation, on behalf of the former child migrant, to assist in locating any
relevant records held by that organisation. This support is offered on a case
by case basis. No Freedom of Information fees apply.
Contact: The Duty Worker
Adoption Information Services
16th Floor
Transport House
589 Collins Street
MELBOURNE VIC
3000
Phone: (03) 9616
2822
Public
Record Office of Victoria
The Public Record Office of Victoria holds relevant
files at the Laverton Search Centre. The records include Child Migration files,
1924-70 and Children’s Overseas Reception Boards files, 1940-46.
Access to the records may be provided by the
controlling agency, the Department of Human Services.
Contact: Melbourne Archives Centre
Level 2, Casselden
Place
2 Lonsdale Street
MELBOURNE VIC
3000
Phone: 1800 657 452
E-mail: ask.prov@dpc.vic.gov.au
Website: http://www.prov.vic.gov.au/main/MACopen.htm
State Library of Victoria
Contact: State Library of Victoria
328 Swanston Street
MELBOURNE VIC
3000
Phone:
(03) 8664 7000
E-mail: webinfo@slv.vic.gov.au
Website: http://www.slv.vic.gov.au
QUEENSLAND
Department of Families, Youth
and Community Care
The Department has produced a guide, Missing Pieces, which provides information about the records of
departmental institutions and those operated by church and community groups.
The guide provides a description of departmental files, location, access
details and contact details. For each institution, both government and non-government,
a brief historical summary is provided. Details of records and access and
contact details are included.
The Department intends to update the guide as additional records are
located.
The guide can be
accessed on the Department’s website at: http://www.families.qld.gov.au/department/MissingPieces/index.html
Contact: Administrative Release
Team
Freedom
of Information Branch
Department
of Families, Youth and Community Care
GPO
Box 806
BRISBANE QLD
4001
Freecall: 1800 809 078
Fax: (07) 3224 7050
Website: http://www.families.qld.gov.au
Aftercare Resource Centre
Following the Forde Inquiry, the Department established a counselling
and support service for former residents of Queensland Institutions. The
Aftercare Resource Centre (ARC) provides face to face and toll free telephone
counselling. ARC also provides advice regarding access to individual records,
documents and archival papers.
Contact: Aftercare Resource Centre
32
Thomas Street
WEST
END QLD
4101
Phone: (07) 3255 2848
Freecall: 1800 501 560
Fax: (07) 3255 2258
Queensland State Archives
The Queensland State Archives holds records from the Immigration
Department, Premier’s Department and other Departments relating to child
migration including escort reports and nominal roles for the voyages,
orphanages and children’s homes.
Contact: Queensland State Archives
435 Compton Road
RUNCORN QLD 4113
Phone: (07) 3875 8755
website: http://www.archives.qld.gov.au
State Library of Queensland
Contact: State Library of Queensland
General Information and Research Services
Level
2, Southbank Building, Queensland Cultural Centre
Cnr
Stanley and Peel Streets
SOUTH
BRISBANE QLD 4101
Phone:
(07) 3840 7666
E-mail:
srlenquiries@slq.qld.gov.au
Website: http://www.slq.qld.gov.au
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Department of Human Services
Adoption and Family Information
Service
Individual Departmental files exist for most former child migrants.
Access is provided through the Adoption and Family Information Service (AFIS).
Support is available for those who wish to access the files. No fees are
charged. AFIS has also developed a small collection of data and information
about the British Child Migration Schemes.
The Department has purchased the Personal History Index (PHIND) as it
contains records of child migrants to South Australia.
Contact: Adoption and Family Information Service
Department
of Human Services
9th
Floor, City Centre Building
11
Hindmarsh Square
ADELAIDE SA
5000
Phone: (08) 8226 6694
State Records of South
Australia
Contact: State Records of South Australia
222 Marion Road
NETLEY SA 5037
Phone: (08) 8343 6800
E-mail: staterecords@saugov.sa.gov.au
Website: http://www.archives.sa.gov.au
Mortlock Library of South
Australia
The Library holds copies of newspapers with stories and photographs of
arrivals from the Ormonde.
Contact: State Library of South Australia
North Terrace
ADELAIDE SA
5000
Phone: (08) 8207 7250
Website: http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au
TASMANIA
Department of Health and Human
Services
Child and Family Services can provide assistance for making Freedom of
Information requests for access to files of the then Department of Social
Welfare.
Contact: Child and Family Services
34
Davey Street
HOBART TAS
7000
Phone:
(03) 6230 7650
Freecall 1800 001 219
Website: http://www.dchs.tas.gov.au
Archives Office of Tasmania
The Archives Office holds records from the Department of Social Welfare
and State Immigration Office relating to child migrants. The Archives also
holds the records of the Fairbridge Home at Tresca House, Exeter, Northern
Tasmania. A guide to the records and how to apply for access are provided on
the Archives website.
Contact: The
State Archivist
Archives Office of Tasmania
77 Murray Street
HOBART TAS 7000
Phone: (03) 6233 7490
Website: http://www.archives.tas.gov.au/guides-to-holdings/guide5.htm
State Library of Tasmania
Contact: State Library of Tasmania
State
Reference Service
2nd
Floor, 91 Murray Street
HOBART TAS
2000
Phone: (03) 6233 7526
E-mail: library.srl@central.tased.edu.au
Website: http://www.tased.edu.au/library/library.htm
United Kingdom
Department of Health
The UK Department of
Health has produced a leaflet called ‘Former British Child Migrants’. The
leaflet provides information about the Support Fund for children who were
migrated from institutional care in the UK under Government assisted schemes
and how to access personal records. Details of the Central Information Index
kept by the National Council of Voluntary Child Care Organisations (NCVCCO)
(see also below) are provided as well as a list of agencies in the UK,
Australia, Canada and New Zealand which may be able to assist in accessing
records.
Department’s website has an information guide for former child
migrants. The guide includes a list of agencies which may be able to provide
help in accessing records as well as links to some Sending Agencies and the
Office of National Statistics.
Contact: Family
Policy Co-ordinator
Room 121 Wellington House
Department of Health
133-155 Waterloo Road
LONDON SE1 8UG
Phone: 020
7972 4086
Website: http://www.doh.gov.uk/childinf.htm
Public Record Office
The Public Record Office holds records concerning child and youth
migration. Some relevant records are listed in the National Archives Guide.
Contact: Public Records Office
Ruskin
Ave
KEW,
SURREY TW9 4DU
UNITED
KINGDOM
Phone: +44 181 392 5200
E-mail:
enquiry@pro.gov.uk
Website:
www.pro.gov.uk
UK Family Records Online
This is a UK family history portal that guides users to resources on
the web. It includes information from the Public Records Office, the National
Archives of Scotland, the India Office, National Library of Wales and the
Family Record Centre. Topical links include census, migration, military
records, adoption and parish registers.
Contact: http://www.familyrecords.gov.uk
NEW ZEALAND
Children, Young Persons and
their Families Agency (CYPFA)
The CYPFA holds a complete list of British children migrated to New
Zealand and where they went after their arrival. It holds personal files
related to individual child migrants for whom the Child Welfare Service of the
then Department of Education acted as guardian.
Contact: Children, Young Persons and their Families Agency
PO
Box 2620
WELLINGTON NZ
Phone:
918 9134
E-mail: stuartyoung002@dsw.govt.nz
Malta
Emigrants Commission
Contact:
Emigrants Commission
Dar I-Emigrant
Castille
Place
VALETTA
MALTA
Phone:
232 545
The Commission for Maltese Abroad
Contact:
The Commission for Maltese Abroad
C/-
Ministry for Education and Human Resources
FLORIANA CMR O2
MALTA
Phone:
231 385
National Archives of Malta
Holds some files relevant to child migrants. See the National Archives
of Australia Guide.
Non-government organisations
AUSTRALIA
Child Migrants Trust (CMT)
The Child Migrants Trust provides assistance to child migrants to be
reunited with living relatives. The Child Migrants Trust employs a specialist
to assist family tracing and specialist social workers to provide counselling
for former child migrants and their families making their first contact.
Contact: Child Migrants Trust
5 Thomas Street
NEDLANDS WA 6909
Phone: (08) 9386 3605
Fax: (08) 9386 3695
Child Migrants Trust
228 Canning Street
NORTH CARLTON VIC 3054
Phone: (03) 9347 7403
Fax: (03) 9347 1791
Child Migrants Trust
28A Musters Road
WEST BRIDGFORD
NOTTINGHAM NG2 7PL
ENGLAND
Phone: (0115) 982 2811
Fax: (0115) 981 7168
Website: http://www.nottscc.gov.uk/child_migrants
International Social Services
Contact: International Social Services
Level 2, 313-315
Flinders Lane
MELBOURNE VIC 3000
Phone: (03) 9614 8755
Fax: (03) 9614 8766
International Social
Services
Suite 2, Level 7
189 Kent Street
SYDNEY NSW 2000
Phone: (02) 9252 7477
Catholic Church
Australian Catholic Social
Welfare Commission (ACSWC)
The ACSWC has compiled a national directory of records of Catholic
organisations caring for children separated from families. The directory,
entitled ‘A Piece of the Story’, lists all known centres run by organisations
of the Catholic Church across Australia that provided residential care for
children outside the family. The directory provides, for each centre, contact
details and information about access and the type of records available.
The directory may be accessed on the web at: http://www.catholicwelfare.com.au/about_us/index.htm
Western
Australia
Personal History Index (PHIND)
The Personal History Index gives details of the location of records
held in Australia for former child migrants who arrived and were placed in
Catholic homes between 1938 and 1965. A child migrant for the Index is a child
who migrated under a recognised scheme authorised by the Commonwealth and/or
State Governments. In the post-war years, it covers those children who arrived
under Immigration Form LEM3 which was specifically for child migrants. With
some exceptions, PHIND does not include youths who migrated under Assisted
Passages or under the Immigration Department’s Youth Migration category.
The PHIND was funded
and sponsored by:
-
the Congregation
of Christian Brothers, Holy Spirit Province (WA & SA);
-
the Poor Sisters
of Nazareth
-
the Sisters of
Mercy Perth Congregation
-
the Sisters of
Mercy Goulburn Congregation
-
the Sisters of
Mercy Rockhampton Congregation
-
the Sisters of
Mercy Parramatta Congregation
-
the Sisters of
Mercy Adelaide Congregation and the Diocese of Adelaide
-
the Salesians of
Don Bosco
-
the Sisters of St
Joseph NSW Province
-
Centacare
Newcastle and the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle.
The information
recorded on the database includes:
-
parent’s name (if
known);
-
name and location
of sending order in the UK;
-
destination order
in Western Australia;
-
initial
residence, as well as any transfer between homes and schools;
-
location of
records for the child migrant, including medical, social, educational.
baptismal and immigration records - as well as sources of any records available
in the UK; and
-
details about
death, including date and cause of death and place of burial if known.
The guide to the PHIND also provides useful
information on additional sources of information and the type of information
available.
The database may be accessed by former child migrants and their
families. Access can be gained through a number of agencies including C-BERS
and the Catholic Migrant Centre.
Contact: The PHIND Administrator
C/-
Christian Brothers
PO
Box 1129
BENTLEY
DELIVERY CENTRE WA 6983
Phone:
(08) 9365 2800
E-mail:
cbprov@iinet.net.au
Website:
http://members.iinet.net.au/~cbprov/phind.htm
Christian Brothers’
Ex-Residents’ Services (C-BERS)
C-BERS can assist
former child migrants of Christian Brothers’ schools in obtaining information
about family members and in seeking documents relating to family of origin.
C-BERS has links with Catholic sending agencies in the UK. A photographic
collection is available for viewing. In addition, C-BERS provides counselling
services, support to family members, reunification services, support for adult
education and assistance with citizenship issues.
C-BERS has provided assistance with the development of the Personal
History Index.
Contact: C-BERS Services
12 Alvan Street
SUBIACO WA 6904
Phone: (08) 9381 5422
Free call: 1800 621 805
E-mail: cberss@iinet.net.au
Catholic Migrant Centre
The Catholic Migrant Centre holds over 900 personal files relating to
former child migrants between 1938 and 1965. Files vary considerably in the
amount of information they contain. The Centre is licensed to access the
Personal History Index.
Contact:
Catholic Migrant Centre
25 Victoria Square
PERTH WA
6000
Phone:
(08) 9221 1727
Fax: (08) 9221 3793
E-mail: cmc@opera.iinet.net.au
Tardun
Farm School (also known as St Mary’s
Agricultural School)
Castledare
Junior Orphanage (also known as St
Vincent’s Boys’ Home)
Clontarf
Boys’ Orphanage (also known as St
Joseph’s, Clontarf Boys’ Town
and formerly known as St Vincent’s Boys’ Orphanage)
St Joseph’s Farm and Trade School
Contact: The Archivist
Christian
Brothers’ Holy Spirit Province
PO
Box 1129
BENTLEY
DELIVERY CENTRE WA 6983
Phone:
(08) 9365 2813
E-mail: cbprov@iinet.net.au
Nazareth House, Bluff Point, Geraldton
Contact:
Sister Superior
PO Box 3247
GERALDTON WA
6530
Phone:
(08) 9923 1205
Fax: (08) 9923 2583
St
Joseph’s Girls’ Orphanage, Subiaco
St Vincent’s Foundling Home
Contact:
The Congregational Leader
Sisters
of Mercy, Perth Congregation
PO Box 74
WEMBLEY WA
6014
Phone:
(08) 9382 1477
Website: http://www.mercy.org.au
South
Australia
St Vincent de Paul Orphanage, Goodwood
Contact:
For access to records
The Director
Centacare
Catholic Family Services, Adelaide
33
Wakefield Street
ADELAIDE SA
5000
Phone:
(08) 8210 8200
E-mail: cfs@centrecare.org.au
Sisters of Mercy - Adelaide
Congregation Office
34 Angas Street
ADELAIDE SW 5000
Phone:
(08) 8212 5456
E-mail:
somercy@iinet.net.au
Victoria
Nazareth House, East Camberwell
Contact:
Sister Superior
Sisters
of Nazareth
16
Cornell Street
CAMBERWELL VIC 3124
Phone: (03) 9830 5022
New South Wales
St Joseph’s
Girls’ Home, Lane Cove, NSW
Contact:
For access to records:
The
Archivist-in-Charge
Sisters
of St Joseph
Congregational
Administration Centre
PO
Box 1508
NORTH
SYDNEY NSW 2059
Phone: (02) 9929 7344
Sisters of St Joseph
PO Box 1150
BURWOOD
NORTH NSW 2134
Phone:
(02) 9745 3444
Fax: (02) 9744 3040
E-mail:
joswsw@werple.net.au
St John’s Orphanage (also known as St John’s Home), Thurgoona
Contact:
For access to records:
The
Congregational Leader
Sisters
of Mercy Congregational Centre
PO
Box 221
GOULBURN NSW
2580
Phone: (02) 4822 2296
Mercy
Centre Lavington
PO
Box 440
LAVINGTON NSW 2641
Phone: (02) 6025 3869
E-mail: mercyctr@albury.com.au
St Brigid’s Girls’ Home, Ryde
Contact:
For access to records:
The
Archivist
Convent
of Mercy
PO
Box 2012
NORTH
PARRAMATTA NSW 2151
Phone: (02) 9630 1106
Catholic
Children’s Home Enquiry Service
Centacare
Catholic Community Services
9
Alexandra Ave
CROYDON NSW
2132
Phone: (02) 9744 7055
St Vincent’s Boys’ Home, Westmead
Contact:
The
Director
St
Vincent’s
PO
Box 49
WESTMEAD NSW
2145
Phone:
(02) 9635 5699
Murray
Dwyer Boys’ Home (formerly the Murray
Dwyer Memorial Orphanage and Mayfield Home), Newcastle
Contact:
The Director
Centracare
Newcastle
PO
Box 775
NEWCASTLE
WEST NSW 2302
Phone:
(02) 4979 1330
E-mail: chancery@mn.catholic.org.au
Diocese
of Maitland-Newcastle Archives
841
Hunter Street
NEWCASTLE NSW
2300
Phone:
(02) 4979 1100
Queensland
St Joseph’s Home, Neerkol
Contact: Congregational Archivist
Mercy
Administration Centre
PO
Box 1576
ROCKHAMPTON QLD
4700
Phone:
(07) 4931 7490
E-mail: jmolloy@a1.com.au roksom@a1.com.au
Contact: Sisters of Mercy, Nudgee
St
Vincent’s Centre
125
Queens Road
NUDGEE QLD
4017
Phone:
(07) 3267 7100
Tasmania
St John Bosco (also known as John Bosco Boys Town), Glenorchy
Contact: Father
Provincial
PO
Box 80
OAKLEIGH VIC
3166
Phone:
(03) 9568 2025
Anglican Church
Western
Australia
Swan Homes, Perth
Contact: Family Information Records Bureau
Family and Children’s Services of WA
PO Box 6334
EAST PERTH WA 6892
Phone: (08) 9222 2662
Free call: 1800 000277
Library and
Information Services of Western Australia also holds some records for Swan
Homes, including admission and discharge records 1868-1960.
New South Wales
Church of England Boys’ and
Girls’ Homes, Carlingford
Contact:
Anglicare Child and Family Services Offices
19A
Gibbons Street
TELOPEA NSW
2117
Phone: (02) 9890 6855
Victoria
St John’s, Canterbury
Contact:
Counsellor
Anglicare
Adoption Information Service
Anglicare
Western Victoria
41
Somerville Road
YARRAVILLE VIC 3013
Phone: (03) 9687 5200
Queensland
St George’s Children’s Home, Parkhurst,
Rockhampton
Contact:
The Registrar
Anglican Diocese of Rockhampton
164
Musgrave Street
NORTH
ROCKHAMPTON QLD 4701
Phone: (07) 4927 3188
Tasmania
Clarendon Children’s Home, Kingston
Contact:
The Director
Clarendon
Children’s Home
8
Jerrim Place
KINGSTON
BEACH TAS 7050
Phone: (03) 6229 5199
Uniting Church (formerly Methodist and
Presbyterian)
Western Australia
Methodist Girls’ Home, Perth
Contact: Family Information Records Bureau
Family and Children’s Services of WA
PO Box 6334
EAST PERTH WA 6892
Phone: (08) 9222 2662
Free call: 1800 000 277
South
Australia
Methodist Children’s Home, Magill (later known as Lentara)
Contact: General Manager of Services
Adelaide Central Mission
10 Pitt Street
ADELAIDE SA 5000
Phone: (08) 8202 5111
Victoria
Dhurringile Training Farm, Tatura
Contact: Uniting Care Connection
5/115 Hawthorn Road
CAULFIELD VIC
3162
Phone: (03) 9530 0666
Methodist
Home, Cheltenham
Methodist Home for Children, Wattle Park
Contact: Orana Family Services
21-27 Hudson Cct
MEADOW
HEIGHTS VIC 3048
Phone: (03) 9302 2700
Wesley Mission
Methodist Home for Children, ‘Dalmar’
Contact: Wesley Mission
Dalmar Child and Family Care
3
Dalmar Place
CARLINGFORD NSW
2118
Phone: (02) 9804 7255
United
Protestant Association of New South Wales Ltd
Melrose, Pendle Hill
Contact:
The General Manager
United Protestant Association of NSW Ltd
PO
Box 273
WAHROONGA NSW
2076
Phone:
(02) 9487 1337
E-mail: sydoffice@upa.org.au
Barnardos Australia
Dr
Barnardos Farm School, Picton
Dr
Barnardos Girls’ Home, Burwood
Dr Barnardos Boys’ & Girls’ Home,
‘Greenwood’, Normanhurst
Barnardos Australia maintains files in Australia of information on
child migrants pertaining to their time after arrival in Australia. These files
are open to access by former child migrants or their immediate next of kin and
a copy is provided on request. Barnardos also has an extensive collection of
photographs which contains a fairly complete photographic record of children
going back to 1867.
The After Care Program services include counselling, record retrieval
of Australian and UK records, copying of records, obtaining certificates,
provision of proof of arrival letters and assistance with reunion applications
and welfare support.
Contact:
Barnardos Australia
After Care Services
60-64
Bay Street
ULTIMO NSW
2007
Phone:
(02) 9281 7933
Fax: (02) 9281 0441
E-mail: barnardosafter-care@bigpond.com
Fairbridge
Homes
Western
Australia
Fairbridge, Pinjarra, WA
All historic Fairbridge records, reports and documentation are vested
in the Library and Information Services of WA. A list of items held is
available through the LISWA catalogue. Access may be made to Fairbridge WA
(Inc) or the Old Fairbridgians Association for access to these records and for
copies of any pertinent documents to be made available to child migrants or the
immediate family of the child migrants. The Secretary of the OFA is the only
person authorised to access the records. Proof of eligibility must be provided
before access is approved.
Contact: Fairbridge Village
South West Highway, Pinjarra
PO Box 173
PINJARRA WA 6208
Phone: (08) 9531 1177
Fax: (08) 9531
1210
Website: http://www.fairbridge.asn.au
Family Information Records Bureau
Family and Children’s Services of WA
PO Box 6334
EAST PERTH WA 6892
Phone: (08) 9222 2662
Freecall: 1800 000 277
New South Wales
Fairbridge Farm School, Molong,
New South Wales
The Farm School was closed in 1973. The personal files of the children
who passed through the Farm School are in the custody of The Fairbridge
Foundation, Sydney. Information includes personal details, and in some cases a
Birth Certificate, where the child came from and information concerning of the
activities of the child after coming to Australia. Information prior to this is
usually limited to the address, where known, of the parent or parents at the
time the child left the UK.
Access is limited to the Old Fairbridgian himself or herself. After the
death of an Old Fairbridgian, his or her spouse and children can have access to
genealogical and medical papers on his or her file. Access can be gained by
application to The Fairbridge Foundation.
Contact: The Council Secretary
Fairbridge Foundation
Trust Building
155 King Street
SYDNEY NSW 2000
Phone: (02) 9232 3258
Tasmania
Tresca House, Exeter
The files from the Fairbridge Society Home at Exeter are deposited in
the Archives Office of Tasmania.
Contact: The
State Archivist
Archives Office of Tasmania
77 Murray Street
HOBART TAS 7000
Phone: (03) 6233 7490
Website: http://www.archives.tas.gov.au/guides-to-holdings/guide5.htm
Victoria
Northcote Farm School,
Glenmore, Bacchus Marsh, Victoria
Contact:
Mr Peter Meryrick
Secretary/Treasurer
Northcote
Trust
11
Hermestead Road
ELTHAM VIC
3095
Phone: (03) 9439 2339
Salvation Army
New South Wales
Contact: Special Search Service
Salvation Army Social Services Department
PO BOX A435
SYDNEY SOUTH NSW
1232
Phone: (02)
9211 2044
Freecall 1300 667 366
Queensland
Contact: Salvation Army Social Services Department
PO BOX A435
SYDNEY SOUTH NSW
1232
Phone: (02)
9211 2044
Feecall: 1300 667 366
Western Australia
Seaforth Boys Home
Contact: Family Information Records Bureau
Family and Children’s Services of WA
PO Box 6334
EAST PERTH WA 6892
Phone: (08) 9222 2662
Free call: 1800 000 277
The Library and
Information Service of Western Australia also holds some records including a
collection of photographs, 1929-1931.
Burnside
Burnside Homes
Contact:
Aftercare Coordinator
Burnside
PO
Box 6866
PARRAMATTA NSW
2150
UNITED KINGDOM
Child Migrants Trust
Contact: Child Migrants’ Trust
28A Musters Road
WEST BRIDGFORD
NOTTINGHAM NG2 7PL
ENGLAND
Phone: (0115) 982 2811
Fax: (0115) 981 7168
National Council of Voluntary
Child Care Organisations (NCVCCO)
As a result of the findings and recommendations of the House of Commons
Select Committee report, the British Government announced that a computerised
index to help former child migrants trace personal records would be created.
NCVCCO maintains the database - the Child Migrant Index.
It contains basic information on child migrants taken from the records
of known UK Sending Agencies for those child migrants who were sent to
Australia, Canada and New Zealand on government assisted schemes between 1920
and the late 1960s. As at December 2000 the Index held details of 17,136 child
migrants. Details have been provided by Barnardos, Fairbridge, Middlemore
Homes, The Children’s Society (TCS), National Childrens Homes (NCH) and
Catholic Children’s Welfare Council (CCWC). NCVCCO also holds the Western
Australian Referral Index that contains the details of 2,949 child migrants who
were sent to Western Australia.
NCVCCO acts as a ‘signposting service’ towards the Sending Agency which
may hold personal records. NCVCCO also offers advice on where personal or
private records may be held and where help and support is available.
NCVCCO’s home page provides a list of links to other organisations that
may prove useful for former child migrants.
Contact: Child Migrant Central Information Index
NCVCCO
Unit 4, 80-82 White Lion Street
LONDON N1 9PF, UNITED KINGDOM
Phone: +44 20 7713 5937
E-mail: migrant@voluntarychild.org
Website: www.ncvcco.org/projects/childmigrant.htm
The Catholic Child Welfare
Council (CCWC)
CCWC holds records centrally for many, but not all, Catholic child
migrants sent to Australia. CCWC records held for each individual vary and may
include migration papers, correspondence, brief details of reasons for
migration, copies or originals of birth certificates/baptismal certificates,
medical reports, school reports from the UK, progress reports on individual
children from institutions in Australia.
Records may also be held by individual agencies or religious orders
which looked after children in the UK. These records often contain very little
information.
A database has been compiled on behalf of CCWC of all known former
Catholic child migrants to Australia, containing both historical information
and recent contact.
CCWC also provides assistance to former child migrants to access their
own and other records and trace living family if possible. CCWC also provides
support and counselling and in the UK.
Contact: St Joseph’s Centre
Watford Way
Hendon
LONDON NW4 4YT
Phone/fax 020 8203 6323
E-mail: ccwc@compuserve.com
Catholic Children’s Society
(Westminster)
Contact:
Catholic Children’s Society (Westminster)
73 St Charles Square
LONDON W10 6EJ
Phone: 0181 969 5305
E-mail: childcath@aol.uk
Father Hudson’s Society
Contact:
Father Hudson’s Society
Coventry
Road
COLESHILL
BIRMINGHAM UK B46 3ED
Phone: 01675 463 187
Nugent Care Society (Catholic
Care Liverpool)
Contact: 150 Brownlow Hill
LIVERPOOL UK L35RF
Phone: 10151 708 0566
Barnardos UK
Barnardos After Care Service provides information about child’s
background, help in tracing relatives and family reunions. For former child
migrants living in Australia, files are compiles and sent directly to Barnardos
Australia.
Original files have been destroyed but copies are on microfiche. There
are also some records kept as volumes but some have been destroyed either
through fire or pests.
Barnardos also holds 20,000 additional records of children emigrated by
other agencies who are no longer in existence.
Contact: Barnardos After Care Centre
Tanners
Lane
Barkingside
Ilford
ESSEX IG6 1QG
Phone:
020 8550 8822
E-mail:
aftercare@barnardos.org.uk
Website:
http://www.barnardos.org.uk
Fairbridge London
Historical records kept by the Fairbridge London are now lodged with
the University of Liverpool Archive (see below).
Contact: Fairbridge
1
Westminster Bridge Road
LONDON WC1X 0JL
Phone:
020 7928 1704
Fax: 0202 7928 6016
E-mail:
info@fairbridge.org.uk
The Children’s Society
Contac: The Children’s Society
Post
Adoption and Counselling Research Project
91
Queen’s Road
PECKHAM
LONDON SE15 2EZ
Phone: 020 7732 9089
Fax: 020 7277
5760
E-mail: Julia.feast@the-childrens-society.org.uk
Website: http://www.the-childrens-society.org.uk
NCH Action for Children
NCH has appointed a Child Migrants Adviser. The Adviser is seeking to
make contact with former child migrants sent to Australia by NCH.
Contact: NCH Action for Children
85
Highbury Park
LONDON N5 1UD
Phone:
020 7704 7094
Website:
http://www.nchafc.org.uk
Quarrier’s Homes
Contact: Quarrier’s Childrens Village
Bridge of Weir
RENFREWSHIRE
SCOTLAND PA11 3SA
E-mail: enquiries@quarriers.org.net
Middlemore Homes
Contact:
55 Stevens Avenue
Bartley Green
BIRMINGHAM B32 3SD
Phone:
0121 427 2429
E-mail:
Middlemore@yescomputers.co.uk
Family Care Society
Contact: Family Care Society
511
Ormeau Road
BELFAST BT7 3GS
Phone:
02890 691 133
The Salvation Army
Deals with requests from UK residents. Other requests should, in the
first instance, be sent to Salvation Army tracing services in Sydney.
Contact:
The Salvation Army
101 Newington Causeway
LONDON SE1 6BN
Phone:
020 7367 4840
Website: http://www.salvationarmyog.uk/familytracing
Sydney Jones Library,
University of Liverpool
The Sydney Jones Library holds records of Barnardo’s Homes, the
National Children’s Homes (now NCH Action for Children), the Fairbridge and
Liverpool Sheltering Homes. A list of relevant records is given in the National
Archives guide.
Contact: The Department of Special Collections and
Archives
Sydney
Jones Library
University
of Liverpool
PO
Box 123
LIVERPOOL L69 3DA
Phone:
+44 151 794 2696
E-mail:
archives@liv.ac.uk
Website: http://sca.lib.liv.ac.uk/collections/socialwork/home.htm
New Zealand
British Child Migrants Society
(NZ) Inc
The Society represents former child migrants in New Zealand and will
act as an intermediary with the Children, Young Persons and their Families
Agency for those former migrants who would prefer not to deal with the
government agencies themselves.
Contact: 4 Royal Oak Drive
Lakemba Park
PALMERSTON NORTH
NEW ZEALAND
Phone/fax: 06 357 4956
OTHER SOURCES
Websites
The
Website at http://www.childmigrants.com has been
established by the brother of a child migrant sent to Australia. The site has
links to other useful sites including NCVCCO, the UK Department of Health, UK
Office of National Statistics and Public Record Office. The site also has a
message page for individuals to leave comments and ask for information.