The British Child migration scheme to the British Empire lasted 350 years with the final group of children departing for Australia in 1967. After World War Two children were sent to Australia from the United Kingdom as a way of increasing Australia's population and as a means of rescuing poor and abandoned children from British institutions. They were unaccompanied by families and had no such ties in Australia. Although it was claimed these children were orphans, most were not, but had been placed in state care when parents were temporarily unable to care for them because of marriage breakdown, illegitimacy and temporary economic hardship. The British, Commonwealth and State Governments contributed financially to the scheme.
In its submission to the Inquiry into Child Migration in 2001, the Queensland Government stated that a total of 125 British child migrants were admitted to two homes between 1950-51 and 1958-9.
By 1967 all child migrants to Neerkol had been discharged from state care.
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The Find & Connect Support Service can help people who lived in orphanages and children's institutions look for their records.
Last updated:
21 July 2023
Cite this: http://www.findandconnect.gov.au/guide/qld/QE00309
First published by the Find & Connect Web Resource Project for the Commonwealth of Australia, 2011
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