Child migrant records held in Sydney

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Many children have come to Australia without their families under child migration schemes. While a number of schemes operated prior to World War II, it was after the war that schemes involving the migration of large numbers of children were introduced. Some of the children were orphans, whiles others had been placed in the care of British children’s homes by their families.

The Commonwealth Department of Immigration was responsible for approving the entry of individuals and recording their arrival. Matters such as accommodation, welfare and reception arrangements generally lay with state governments or charitable bodies such as the Big Brother Movement, Dr Barnardo’s Homes, Fairbridge Farm Schools or institutions run by religious orders.

Between 1947 and 1953 more than 3200 children migrated to Australia under approved schemes. Most children were from the United Kingdom, with a small number from Malta. Proposals to include children from Poland and Italy did not proceed.

Record holdings

Records relating to child migrants to New South Wales - including migrant selection documents, passenger lists and immigration policy files - are held by the National Archives Sydney Office. Relevant files may also be held by other National Archives' offices.

Migrant selection documents

The range of papers usually found in the files identified as migrant selection documents includes application forms, medical reports, and other papers completed by applicants for assisted migration to Australia from Britain. Consolidated they contain a wide range of personal details. From November 1948, papers were arranged chronologically by arrival date of the vessel or aircraft.

Personal documents of British migrants and British assisted passage migrants, which include children, are held from 1947. The table below lists the collections in chronological order.

Personal documents of British migrants and British assisted passage migrants
Title or description of record Date range Series number
Personal documents of British assisted migrants 1947–48 SP104/1
Personal documents of British assisted migrants 1948–49 SP104/2
Personal documents of British migrants 1949–50 SP122/1
Personal documents of British migrants 1951 SP231/1
Personal documents of British migrants 1952 SP274/1
Personal documents of British migrants 1953–54 SP343/5
Personal documents of British assisted migrants 1955–56 SP388/1
Personal documents of British assisted migrants 1956–57 SP427/1
Personal documents of British assisted migrants 1957–58 SP476/1
Personal documents of British assisted migrants 1958–60 SP500/1
Personal documents of British assisted migrants 1960 SP516/1
Personal documents of British assisted migrants 1960–63 SP593/1
Personal documents of British assisted migrants 1961 SP550/1
Personal documents of British assisted migrants 1962–63 SP643/1
Personal documents of British assisted migrants 1963–64 SP646/1
Personal documents of British assisted migrants 1964 SP669/1
Personal documents of British assisted migrants 1964–65 SP716/1
Personal documents of British assisted migrants 1965 SP725/1
Personal documents of British assisted migrants 1965 SP731/1
Personal documents of British assisted migrants 1965 SP745/1
Personal documents of British assisted migrants 1965–66 SP763/1
Personal documents of British assisted migrants 1966 SP785/1
Personal documents of British assisted migrants 1966–67 SP791/1
Personal documents of British assisted migrants 1967 SP835/1
Personal documents of British assisted migrants 1967 SP849/1
Personal documents of British assisted migrants 1967 SP874/1
Personal documents of British assisted migrants 1967–68 SP884/1

Passenger lists

Each vessel arriving at the port of Sydney (or aircraft arriving at Mascot) was required to lodge a list of incoming passengers. Arranged by date of arrival passenger lists include the name of each passenger and, in earlier lists, details such as age or marital status. Passenger lists for the period 1923 to 1966 are available as microfilm. For more information see Passenger records held in Sydney.

Passenger lists will often need to be consulted to establish the vessel name and date of arrival needed to access the migrant selection documents.

Immigration policy files

Files referring to child migration will be found in the main correspondence series of the Department of Immigration (New South Wales State Office), and some will contain information about individual children. Examples of relevant items are listed in the table below.

Correspondence references
Title or description of record Date range Series number
Care of child migrants 1947 SP11/18, E1947/1709
Immigration – Fairbridge Farm Schools – capital expenditure, balance sheets, etc. 1948–68 C3939, N1955/25/75209 part 1
Immigration – Fairbridge Farm Schools 1962–73 C3939, N1955/25/75209 part 2
Immigration – Escorts for assisted child migrants 1950–63 C3939, N1954/25/75385
Immigration – Big Brother Movement – nominations claims for equipment allowance 1950–61 C3939, N1957/75099 part 1
Immigration – Big Brother Movement – nominations claims for equipment allowance 1961–67 C3939, N1957/75099 part 2
Immigration – Big Brother Movement – nominations claims for equipment allowance 1967–70 C3939, N1957/75099 part 3
Immigration – visit by Mr PL Hartley, Deputy General Superintendent of Dr Barnardo's Homes 1952–77 C3939, N1963/75248
Immigration – Survey of accommodation available in approved institutions for child migrants 1953–62 C3939, N1955/25/75054
Immigration – Selections of child migrants 1954 C3939, N1954/25/75448
Immigration – 100th post-war party of Little Brothers arrival on Fairsky, 9 November 1960 1960 C3939, N1960/75177
Immigration – child migration of orphans from Italy 1961 C3939, N1961/75238

Locating additional records

Search the collection to locate additional material of interest. Keyword searches will help you identify relevant material.

Collections in other institutions

Relevant records on child migration may be held by State government archives.

The Child Migrants Trust can assist in tracing the background and families of children who came to Australia as unaccompanied child migrants.

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