Archives



Register of Admissions – Industrial School, Boys Reformatory School, and Girls Reformatory School

This Register of Admissions contains entries for children admitted to the Magill Industrial School (1862-1877), the Boys Reformatory School (1869-1882), and the Girls Reformatory School (1871-1882). Although the register appears to have started in 1873, it does contain entries for children admitted from 1862. Access Conditions This register is open and can be viewed by…

Register of Admissions to the Reformatory Hulk, Fitzjames

This register contains information about children who were admitted to the Reformatory Hulk Fitzjames. Entries for each child are recorded across two pages, and includes the following information. Left hand page: (1) Number; (2) Name; (3) Age; (4) Ship; (5) How long in Australian colonies; (6) Date of arrival in South Australia; (7) Late place…

Case files relating to Aboriginal families and individuals, Social Welfare Department and Predecessors

These case files contain information about Aboriginal families and individuals in South Australia.  The files were initially created by the Aborigines Department but then transferred and maintained by the Department of Social Welfare and its successors. State Records South Australia hold a large quantity of these files (25 linear metres), however there is very little…

Adoption files, Children’s Welfare and Public Relief Department and successor agencies

The Adoption Files are files containing personal information about adopted children and their adoptive parents. State Records of South Australia hold a very large quantity of adoption files, however there is very little information about the typical contents of the files available through their catalogue. Access Conditions Access to these records is permanently restricted to…

Client files, Social Welfare Department and its successors

This series contains the client files for children who were under the care of South Australian Government agencies responsible for child welfare. The contents of the files varies for each child, but generally document case planning and service provision. The files often including records relating to assessments and evaluations, finances and payments, referrals, foster and…

Rough register of children available for adoption, Social Welfare Department and Predecessors

This register contains a list of names of children available for adoption with date of birth and location. Access Conditions Access to these records is restricted for 100 years in order to protect personal privacy. People mentioned in these records have a right to access information about themselves. To request access to these records please…

Mortality record book of children in the care of the Department, Social Welfare Department and Predecessors

This book contains information about children who died while wards of the state. The book gives: (1) Name of child, (2) Age at time of death, (3) Where placed at time of death, (4) Cause of death. Entries in the book are arranged chronologically. Access Conditions Access to the records in this series is restricted…

Case histories of children in the care of the Department, Social Welfare Department and Predecessors

These case histories include brief information about children under departmental care. Histories give: (1) Date of birth, (2) Parents’ names, (3) General circumstances, (4) Details of committal, (5) details of institutional and residential placement. They are arranged alphabetically by surname. Access Conditions Access to some of the records in this series is restricted for 100…

Files relating to children under departmental supervision, Social Welfare Department and Predecessors

This series of ‘files relating to children under departmental supervision’ (GRG 29/108) covering the years 1950 to 1978 follows on from GRG 29/123 which covers the years 1920-1950. These files were a series of correspondence dockets on different subjects created when necessary. Each docket relates to a child who was under departmental care. Unfortunately due…

Mandates committing children to the custody of the Department, Social Welfare Department and Predecessors

This series consists of the legal documents which committed children to an Industrial or Reformatory School, and was the first step in them becoming a ward of the State. They contain information including the child’s name, the name of the institution they were placed in, the date of their placement, general biographical information including about…