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Legislation Orphanages Act 1879

Colony of Queensland

From
1879
To
1879
Categories
Legislation

Summary

Please note that this page reproduces the original language used in the historical sources drawn upon to compile this entry. This language includes offensive and derogatory terms which are today considered unacceptable. We apologise for any offence caused by such language.

Under The Orphanages Act of 1879, orphanages were charged with the care, teaching and training of children whose circumstances included death of one or both parents, desertion by parents, or neglect. The Act also provided for the boarding-out, hiring-out and apprenticing of orphanage children

Details

The Orphanages Act 1879 permitted destitute or deserted children under the age of 12 years to be sent to an orphanage and to remain there until they reached 12 years of age, unless boarded out with a 'trustworthy and respectable person' or hired out or apprenticed. A child could be hired out or become an apprentice at 10 years of age. At this time, the state subsidised orphanages in Brisbane, Rockhampton and Townsville, and an inspector of orphanages was appointed. Parents or relatives of children living in these institutions were expected to contribute to their support.

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Timeline

 1865 Industrial and Reformatory Schools Act 1865
       1879 Orphanages Act 1879
             1911 State Children Act 1911
                   1965 Children's Services Act 1965
                         1980 Bail Act 1980
                         1992 Juvenile Justice Act 1992
                         1999 Child Protection Act 1999

Publications

Statutes

  • Orphanages Act 1879 (Qld), 1879. Details

Online Resources

Sources used to compile this entry: To Remove and Protect: laws that changed Aboriginal lives, Queensland Legislation, 2009, http://www.aiatsis.gov.au/collections/exhibitions/remove/qld/legislation.html; Department of Child Safety, 'Child protection legislation: an historical perspective', State of Queensland, 2006, http://www.communities.qld.gov.au/childsafety/about-us/legislation/child-protection-legislation-an-historical-perspective.

Prepared by: Cate Elkner

Created: 1 February 2011, Last modified: 13 December 2011