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Event Child and Youth Migration (c. 1911 - 1967)

From
c. 1911
To
1967

Summary

Child migrants were school age children in care institutions in the United Kingdom. They were usually from eight to thirteen years of age on arrival, although some were younger. Youth migrants were usually young men aged 15-19 years of age who had left school and had made their own decision to migrate.

Before World War II child migration schemes provided farm training for boys and domestic skills for girls. Post-World War II emphasis was placed on increasing Australia's population. Prior to 1946 child migration was administered largely by the State governments. The first youth migrants to New South Wales were the Dreadnought Boys, aged 16-19 years, brought out by the Dreadnought Trust in 1911 under an agreement with the New South Wales Government.

The main care agencies involved in child migration were Barnados, Fairbridge, Catholic Church agencies and some Protestant Churches. The Big Brother Movement encouraged youth migration. Child and youth migration to New South Wales ceased in 1967.

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Related Glossary Terms

Related Organisations

Publications

Books

  • Hill, David, The Forgotten Children: Fairbridge Farm School and its betrayal of Australia's child migrants, Random House, North Sydney, 2007, 338 pp. Details
  • Humphreys, Margaret, Oranges and Sunshine, Corgi, London, 2010, 383 pp. Details
  • Humphreys, Margaret, Empty Cradles, Doubleday, London; Sydney, 2010, 331 pp. Details
  • McLean, Donald, Children In Need: An account of the administration and functions of the Child Welfare Department, New South Wales, Australia: with an examination of the principles involved in helping deprived and wayward children, Government Printer, Sydney, 1955, 173 pp. Details

Reports

Online Resources

Sources used to compile this entry: 'Archives in Brief 91: 20th century child and youth migration', in Archives in Brief, This Archives in Brief provides a brief overview of the major sources held by State Records that relate to child and youth migration., State Records Authority of New South Wales, 2003, http://www.records.nsw.gov.au/state-archives/guides-and-finding-aids/archives-in-brief/archives-in-brief-91; Hill, David, The Forgotten Children: Fairbridge Farm School and its betrayal of Australia's child migrants, Random House, North Sydney, 2007, 338 pp.

Prepared by: Melissa Downing

Created: 4 July 2011, Last modified: 4 November 2011