The State Children’s Department took over responsibility for State children from the Destitute Poor Department in 1886 as a result of the passing of the Destitute Persons Act Amendment Act 1886. This Act created the term ‘State Child’ and separated responsibility for the care of State children from that of adults who continued to be cared for by the Destitute Poor Department. The State Children’s Department was replaced by the Children’s Welfare and Public Relief Department in 1927.