Archives



State Library of South Australia

The State Library of South Australia is the largest public reference library in South Australia with a collection focus on South Australian information. The Library’s archival collection includes manuscripts, photographs, oral history recordings and film. The Library has a collection of newspapers and general reference books and journals. Researchers can have access to documents and…

Diocesan Archives Centre, Anglican Diocese of Adelaide

The Diocesan Archives Centre, Anglican Diocese of Adelaide was established in 1998. The Archives collect, preserve and make available historical records of the Anglican Church in South Australia. The Diocesan Archives Centre manages access to records related to former Church of England and Anglican Children’s Homes and Social Welfare Bureau’s. The Archives also manage access…

The Babies’ Home Walkerville

The Babies’ Home at Walkerville was established by the Church of England in Walkerville in 1912. It cared for, and often adopted out, babies born at the House of Mercy, a refuge for unmarried mothers. After the home closed in 1945, babies were placed at St Mary’s Mission of Hope. The Babies’ Home at Walkerville…

Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women, State Government of Queensland

The Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women was established on 12 December 2017, following the Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services’ responsibilities being split into two departments. The Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women is responsible for youth justice and child protection services including adoption, foster and kindship care. The Department…

Cherbourg Aboriginal Settlement

The Cherbourg Aboriginal Settlement was located on the lands of the Wakka Wakka people, near the town of Murgon in south eastern Queensland. The Salvation Army missionary William J Thompson established a mission at Barambah in 1899. Initially it was sponsored by the Ipswich Aboriginal Protection Society. In 1904-1905 the Queensland government took over management…

Children’s Court of Queensland

The Children’s Court in Queensland was established by the Children’s Court Act 1907. This formed a special court of petty sessions where charges against people under 17 years were to be heard in camera. Many children entered the child welfare system via a hearing in the Children’s Court. The Court could judge a child to…

Apology for past forced adoption practices, Parliament of Queensland

On 27 November 2012, the Queenland government apologised for the hurt and harm caused by past forced adoption policies and practice. The Apology was issued by the Premier, Campbell Newman MP, on behalf of the Queensland Legislative Assembly. The apology reflected the recommendation made by the Australian Government Senate Committee Inquiry on the Commonwealth Contribution…

Apology to children who were wards of the state placed in adult mental health facilities, Parliament of Queensland

In February 2010, the Queensland government issued an Apology to those who, as children in the care of the State of Queensland, experienced or witnessed maltreatment or neglect, or were inappropriately placed in Queensland adult mental health facilities. The number of teenagers placed in adult psychiatric institutions in Queensland is estimated to be between 50…

Apology to those harmed in Queensland institutions during their childhood

In 1999, the Queensland government and church authorities issued an Apology to those who were harmed or suffered abuse in church- and state-run institutions during their childhood. The Apology was in response to the findings of the Forde Commission of Inqury into Abuse of Children in Queensland Institutions. It accepted the findings of the Forde…

yourtown

yourtown was created in 2016, it was formerly known as BoysTown Ltd. The organisation provides a range of services to young people, including education, counselling, peer support, employment and social welfare services. The organisation dates back to 1961 and BoysTown Beaudesert, a children’s Home that closed in 2001. In 2016, the organisation explained the reasons…