In the 1800s, vagrancy was an offence whereby people could be imprisoned for being without visible means of support. An adult convicted of vagrancy could have their children committed to the state under child welfare legislation. Child vagrants could be committed to industrial schools under the 1866 legislation, and vagrancy remained a key marker of neglect in all subsequent child welfare legislation.
Prepared by: Naomi Parry
Created: 27 October 2011
Last updated: 4 August 2023
Cite this: https://www.findandconnect.gov.au/ref/nsw/biogs/NE01014b.htm
First published by the Find & Connect Web Resource Project for the Commonwealth of Australia, 2011
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