Some Queensland orphanage records have recently been opened to the public. The following records are now available in Qld State Archives ArchivesSearch (check periodically in case more are added):
- St. Vincent's Home (Nudgee): Index to admission registers 1866-1905, and admission register 1866-1908.
- Diamantina Orphanage and Receiving Depot: Index to admission registers 1865-1905, and admission registers 1865-1908.
- Meteor Park Orphanage (Neerkol), Rockhampton: Admission registers 1885-1909.
- Industrial and Reformatory School for Boys: Admission register 1871-1906.
- Industrial and Reformatory School for Girls, Toowoomba: Letterbooks of the Superintendent 1881-1895.
My book Tips for Queensland Research has advice about indexes and records for Townsville, Mackay and Rockhampton orphanages.
'Failing to contribute to support of children in an orphanage' is one of the offences mentioned in Police Station summons sheets. Children charged with 'being a neglected child' are mentioned in police watchhouse charge books.
Thank you for this post, some really useful information here. I have ancestors in Queensland where I lost the thread, shall have a look and see if I pick it up again in an orphanage.
ReplyDeleteI can't thank you enough for this Judy. I found my FUNK family in the orphanage - 2 young boys and 2 young girls were admitted on 5 June 1875 after their mother died in Roma in April. The only one to survive was my G Grandmother as the other 3 died of Scarlet fever on 25 & 26 June. What a terrible story.
ReplyDeletePaul, thanks for sharing your success story. It's nice to know that my blog is useful! This may not be relevant, but there are entries for 'John FUNK' in indexes to Supreme Court probate files (wills), naturalisations and land selection files. They are all at Queensland State Archives.
ReplyDeletemy mother and 5 siblings were placed at nudgee eldest 13 -8 mclady children can i access their files
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, if you are looking for recent orphanage records you need to read the Brief Guide to Orphanage and Children's Home Records.
DeleteJudy I used these files recently to find the father's name for some 2nd cousins whose father was in Nudgee. They had asked me to see what I could find, back before the files were opened. There are truly sad stories contained in the one line summaries.
ReplyDeleteYou're right about the sad stories. Many of my clients have asked me to try to identify the father of an illegitimate child, and although there are many potentially useful sources, in some cases the orphanage records have been the easiest to search.
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