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.

The three Trustees, including the Police Magistrate, formed a Committee of Management responsible for the operation of the Orphanage. An Inspector of Orphanages was appointed on 1 April 1875, and in 1876 responsibility for orphanages was transferred from the Colonial Secretary's Office to the Public Instruction Department. Under The Orphanages Act of 1879, the Public Instruction Department, Orphanages Branch, was established. Orphanages remained subject to Inspection, while members of the Ladies' Committees reported on the well-being of children who were boarded-out or hired-out.

With the majority of children boarded-out, Rockhampton Orphanage was re-named the Rockhampton Receiving Depot in 1894, although the Depot continued to care for Infants and to act as a training school for girls. On 17 December 1964, the Depot was re-named Birralee Children's Home and from 1967/68 acted as a Receiving and Assessment Centre until Birralee Hostel was opened in 1981.

Birralee Hostel closed 30 November 1982.

Events

1870 - 1894

Rockhampton Orphanage was situated at 124 Quarry Street, Rockhampton. Location: Rockhampton