Child and Youth Migration Records, State Records of South Australia

State Records of South Australia holds a number of records that contain information about child and youth migrants, and the organisations and schemes that brought child and youth migrants to South Australia. The records were kept by the State departments responsible for immigration and tourism, and the State departments responsible for child and social welfare. Some of the records directly relate to child and youth migration, while other relate to migration more broadly, but include information about child and youth migrants.

Access Conditions

While the majority of records described on this page are open and can be viewed by any member of the public, some are restricted for a period of time to protect personal privacy. Individuals mentioned in restricted records have a right to access information about themselves. To access restricted records please contact the Department for Child Protection Freedom of Information Unit. For access to open records please contact State Records of South Australia.

Records

The following records have been identified as containing information about child and youth migrants, or child and youth migration schemes and their involved organisations:

Applications for assisted passage by agricultural labourers, 1911-1914 (GRG7/3). Open access.

These applications include some details about unaccompanied minors who immigrated to South Australia to work as agricultural labourers.

Conduct records kept by Superintendents and Matrons in charge of single females and youths on assisted passages to South Australia, 1912-1914 (GRG7/55). Open access.

These conduct records contain notes kept by superintendents and matrons in change of unaccompanied minors who immigrated to South Australia to work as domestic servants or agricultural labourers. They include details about the journey such as weather, illnesses, activities, conduct, and incidents.

Report on ‘Immigration of Lads from the United Kingdom to South Australia for farm and other work’, 1913 (GRG7/59). Open access.

This series contains several reports about the immigration of unaccompanied minors to South Australia, specifically as agricultural labourers. It is not clear if the reports contain any details about individuals.

Farm apprentice ledgers – Immigration Act, 1913 and “Barwell Boys Scheme”, 1914-1961 (GRG7/56). Open access.

These ledgers contains details about payments made to unaccompanied minors who immigrated to South Australia as farm apprentices. They include the names of the apprentices, details about their arrival, their employer, and payments made to them. Many of the apprentices had immigrated under the Barwell Boys Scheme.

Applications by youths for assisted passage as farm apprentices – Barwell Boys Scheme, 1922-1924 (GRG7/6). Open access.

These applications contain details about boys who wished to immigrated to South Australia as unaccompanied minors to work as farm apprentices.

Applications for assisted passage by selected immigrants from the United Kingdom, 1921-1930 (GRG7/9). Open access.

These applications include details about young people who immigrated to South Australia as unaccompanied minors to work as farm apprentices or domestic servants. Details include name and address, referees, names of parents, details about their arrival, and sometimes correspondence and certificates of identity including photographs.

List of emigrants expected to embark at London, chronological series, 1926-1929 (GRG7/58). Open access.

These lists contain the names of emigrants departing London for South Australia. They include the names of unaccompanied minors who travelled under the Big Brother scheme, or under work schemes as farm apprentives and domestic servants.

Applications by youths for assisted passage as boy migrants – Big Brother Scheme, 1927-1929 (GRG7/7). Open access.

These applications contain details about boys between the ages of 15 and 21 who were applying to immigrate to South Australia under the Big Brother scheme to work as farm apprentices. They include the boys name, address in the UK, referees, names of parents/guardians, arrival details, employer, and sometimes correspondence.

Reports and correspondence on war evacuee children from the United Kingdom, 1940-1945 (GRG29/95). Partially restricted access, open after 80 years.

This series contains information about children who were sent to South Australia from the United Kingdom as unaccompanied child migrants during the 2^nd World War.

Card index to assisted immigrants nominated under group nominations, 1947-1976 (GRG7/88). Open access.

This index includes details about prospective migrants nominated for assisted passage to South Australia, including groups of unaccompanied minors nominated under the Commonwealth Child Migration Scheme.

Schedule of group nominations for free or assisted passage, 1947-1978 (GRS/16519). Partially restricted access, open after 60 years

This series includes nominations of unaccompanied children for free passage to Australia under the Commonwealth Child Migration Scheme.

Correspondence files (‘TB’, ‘PTB’, ‘P&TB’ and ‘I&TB’ files) – State Tourist Bureau and successors, 1909-1972 (GRG7/24). Open access.

This correspondence series includes some files relating to child and youth migrants. A list of relevant files in this series is available here: Series GRG7/24 Tourist Bureau Correspondence (1909-1972)

Correspondence files (‘IMM’ files) – Immigration Officer, 1911-1924 (GRG7/23). Open access.

This correspondence series includes some files relating to child and youth migrants. A list of relevant files in this series is available here: Series GRG7-23 Immigration Correspondence (1911-1924)

Conference papers and correspondence on immigration of minors, 1948-1964 (GRG29/125). Restricted access, open after 80 years.

This correspondence series includes some files relating to child and youth migrants.