Colony of Western Australia
The Colonial Secretary's Office in the Colony of Western Australia continued the role of the Colonial Secretary's Office in the Crown Colony of Western Australia from 1890. The Office was responsible for the welfare of children in Western Australia: the Superintendent of Poor Relief and Charitable Institutions was responsible for orphanages and industrial schools; the Principal Medical Officer was responsible for asylums and hospitals; and, the Protector of Aborigines was responsible for institutions for Aboriginal children. With the passing of the State Children Act 1907, responsibility for child welfare was passed to the Public Charities and State Children Department in 1908. In 1924, the Colonial Secretary's Office was replaced by the Chief Secretary's Department.
1828 - 1890 Colonial Secretary's Office
1890 - 1924 Colonial Secretary's Office
1924 - 1983 Chief Secretary's Department
Sources used to compile this entry: 'Colonial Secretary's Department', in JS Battye (ed.), The Cyclopedia of Western Australia (1912), vol. 1, Hesperian Press, Victoria Park, 1985, pp. 502-507; 'AU WA A103 - Colonial Secretary's Office', in State Records Office of Western Australia - Organisations & People, State Records Office of Western Australia, 2015, https://archive.sro.wa.gov.au/index.php/colonial-secretarys-office-au-wa-a103.
Prepared by: Debra Rosser
Created: 18 March 2012, Last modified: 8 October 2014