These are records created by Brush Farm Home, Brush Farm Infants’ Home, and Brush Farm Special School, that are held by Museums of History NSW (State Archives). The records contain information about children that spent time at the Home, and include admission and discharge registers, school admission registers, immunization records, medical officer reports, and records of movements of children between placements.
Access Conditions
Access to these records is currently restricted. In New South Wales, records relating to individuals, such as case files and correspondence are closed to public access for 100 years. Records such as registers and indexes are closed to public access for 80 years.
Care Leavers wishing to access records about themselves will need to complete a Care Leaver Records Access Application Form (downloadable from the Care Leaver Records Access Unit website or available at a Community Services Centre). Completed application forms with proof of identity can be sent to the Care Leaver Records Access Unit, or lodged with a Community Services Centre. For further information please contact the Care Leaver Records Access Unit.
Records
- Admission and Discharge Registers, Brush Farm Home, 1922-1987. Reference Number: NRS-19708
These registers record information about children admitted to and discharged from Brush Farm Home. The registers include information such as date of admission, child’s name, age (from 1967 date of birth is recorded instead), religion, from whom received and address, admission remarks (sometimes includes I.Q.), date of discharge, to whom discharged and address, how placed, and discharge remarks (e.g. on holiday leave). The first of these registers was not started until 1944, however it contains information on admissions dating back to 1922.
- Admission and Record Cards, Brush Farm Home, 1964-1980. Reference Number: NRS-19739.
These cards record information about children residing at Brush Farm Home. The majority of cards relate to children born in the 1950s and 1960s. All cards include the child’s name, date of birth and religion, and often include notes on medical conditions and disabilities and their level and effect on the child, cause of medical conditions, the child’s educational/adaptive potential, and their I.Q. The cards may also contain additional information on the child’s background, progress, other placements (institutional or otherwise), their destination following discharge, medical tests or treatments undertaken, medical progress, child’s behaviour, and information about the child’s family including parents and siblings names, home situation, reason for placement. The cards can also include the dates of any reports made on the child, and information about educational tests taken by the child, including type of test, date, and results.
- Admission Register, Brush Farm Home, 1978-1980. Reference Number: NRS-19733.
This register records information about children admitted to Brush Farm Home. The register includes information such as date of admission, child’s name, date of birth, age, SC 107 number [child endowment form], type of admission (e.g. transfer, leave), from whom received (name and relationship), and address. Some entries in the register have notes about the child’s stay, e.g. if it was a temporary or overnight stay rather than long-term.
- Discharge Registers, Brush Farm Home, 1976-1980. Reference Number: NRS-19734.
These registers record information about children discharged from Brush Farm Home. The registers include information such as date of discharge, child’s name, date of birth, age, SC 108 number [child endowment form], type of discharge (e.g. hospital, transfer, leave), to whom discharged (name and relationship), and address.
- Immunization Records, Brush Farm Home, 1968-1984. Reference Number: NRS-19690.
These records contain information about children who received immunizations at Brush Farm Home. The records include information such as child’s name, date the vaccine was administered, type of vaccine, batch number, and date booster shots were due and administered. The types of vaccines mentioned in the records cover rubella, polio, tetanus, and the triple antigen vaccine (diptheria, tetanus, and pertussis).
- Weekly Returns, Brush Farm Home, 1970. Reference Number: NRS-19684.
These forms record details about the movements of children to and from Brush Farm Home. The forms contain information such as child’s name, date of arrival/departure, where they came from/were going to (e.g. with relative or another institution), if they were new admissions/discharges, absconders, or absent for other reasons. In addition to the movement forms are lists of all residents for each week, arranged by their dormitory, another list of residents arranged by age, as well as statistical information on total numbers of residents, capacity, and vacancies.
- Admission and Discharge Register, Brush Farm Infant’s Home, 1969-1985. Reference Number: NRS-19728.
This register records information about children admitted to and discharged from Brush Farm Infant’s Home. The register includes information such as admission date, child’s name, date of birth, religion, from whom received and address, admission remarks, date of discharge, to whom discharged and address, how placed, and discharge remarks. The information recorded for each child varies over time. Later entries also include addition information on child’s gender, who made the referral, reasons for placement (specifically for temporary care), number of days spent at the home, whether this was the child’s first placement, any disabilities the child has, and the geographical region the child came from and returned to.
- Admission Registers, Brush Farm Infant’s Home, 1976-1980. Reference Number: NRS-19731
These registers record information about children admitted to Brush Farm Infant’s Home. The registers include information such as admission date, child’s name, date of birth, age, SC 107 number [child endowment form], religion, type of admission (e.g. transfer, foster parent), from whom received (name and relationship), and address. Some entries in the register have notes about the child’s medical condition or disabilities, and other relevant information (e.g. temporary overnight stay). The register ends in 1980 when the infant’s home was closed and replaced with a temporary residential care unit for disabled children.
- Discharge Registers, Brush Farm Infant’s Home, 1976-1980. Reference Number: NRS-19732
These registers record information about children discharged from Brush Farm Infant’s Home. The registers include information such as date of discharge, child’s name, date of birth, age, SC 108 number [child endowment form], type of discharge (e.g. transfer, hospital, or holiday leave), to whom discharged (name and relationship), and address. The register ends in 1980 when the infant’s home was closed and replaced with a temporary residential care unit for disabled children.
- Medical Officers’ Journals, Brush Farm Infant’s Home, 1969-1986. Reference Number: NRS-19685.
These journals contain the medical officer’s notes about medical treatment for children at Brush Farm Infant’s Home and, later, the Brush Farm temporary residential unit for disabled children. The journals include information such as date, name of resident, date of birth (only entries from 1969-1976), medical complaint (only entries from 1976-1986), treatment given, and brief notes on if the condition required further review, ongoing treatment, tests, or hospitalisation.
- School Admission Register, Brush Farm Special School, 1923-1970. Reference Number: NRS-19735.
This register records details of children admitted to Brush Farm Special School, which was on the same site as the Brush Farm Home. The information in this register varied over time, but generally includes registration number, date of admission, child’s name and age, religion, date of leaving school, and occupation entered on leaving school (if any). Some records also include date of birth, I.Q, and the dates students began each class (e.g. English or Maths).
