State Children's Department (GRG27)

The State Children's Council was established in 1886 under Act No. 387 of 1886 'An Act to Amend the Destitute Persons' Act 1881'.

The first Council consisted of seven members - Bessie Baker, James Smith, Mary Colton, Catherine Helen Spence, C.H. Goode, K. Howard and C. E. Clark. The Secretary was J.R. Whiting, who was also the head of the State Children's Department.

Under the Act, the State Children's Council was responsible for:

- the boarding-out, licensing out, adoption and apprenticing of State children.

- the care, management and control of all Industrial Schools, Reformatory Schools and houses of reception.

- the removal, recall or restoration to parents of State children.

The Act defined a State child as a child under the age of 18 years, who had been declared destitute, criminal, neglected or uncontrollable. The parents of State children were still liable for the maintenance of their children until the age of 14.

For further details of the State Children's Council, and for the regulations governing the treatment of state children see the State Children's Council Regulations in GRG 27/1/1891/195, or copy in the Special Lists folder for GRG 27 in the Research Centre.

Same agency as GA2224 - different archival control system.