Children's Welfare and Public Relief Department (GA646)

The Department came into existence through a proclamation of the Govenor in the Government Gazette datetd 6/4/1927. The same proclamation discontinued the Destitute Persons Department and the State Children's Department. The Department was established to care for children and people in need.

The Department was divided into the Children's Welfare Branch and the Relief Branch. Following its foundation the Department controlled the following institutions: Central Depot; Industrial School; Seaforth Convalescent Home; Boys Reformatory-Magill; Girls Probationary School-Fullarton; Boys Probationary School, Mount Barker; Barton Vale School; Boys Reformatory, Brooklyn Park and Magill Home.

During the 1930/31 financial year the Catholic Girls Home-Parkside was added to the Department's control. The Boys Reformatory at Brooklyn Park was closed on 31/3/1941 and the Catholic Girls Home, Parkside was closed on 21/1/1943 whilst the Home of the Good Shepherd, Plympton was opened on 15/1/1943. Barton Vale School was closed by the Salvation Army and purchased by the government during the 1946/47 financial year. Following the government's purchase of the school it was re-named Vaughan House. During the 1958/59 financial year the Industrial School was re-named the Glandore Children's Home.

The Department was replaced by the Department of Social Welfare by a proclamation dated 27/11/1966.