Archives



Advisory Council of Empire Settlement, United Kingdom

The Church of England’s migration committee (which had a number of different names) organised the migration of British children to Swan Homes in Western Australia. In his history of Swan Homes, Roy Peterkin recalled the roles of two key people in arranging the migration of more than 200 children to Swan Homes over a period…

Perth Native School

Perth Native School, which was also known as the Wesleyan Native School and Perth Native Institution, was a residential school for Aboriginal children established in Perth by the Wesleyan Reverend John Smithies. At first, the students stayed in the home of Francis Fraser Armstrong but moved to a ‘mission house’ in William Street in 1841….

Fremantle Native School

The Fremantle Native School was established by The Reverend George King in 1842. It was an Anglican residential school for Aboriginal children, mostly girls. Starting with 15 students, the school closed in 1851. The remaining students were transferred to Annesfield in Albany.

Swanleigh

Swanleigh in Middle Swan was the new name given in early 1960 to Swan Homes. It was a hostel for country children attending high school in the city. In 2010 Swanleigh became a conference and camp facility.

Swan Boys’ Orphanage

Swan Boys’ Orphanage was opened in 1876 in Middle Swan. It had previously been the Perth Boys’ Orphanage in Perth. In 1942, the boys were joined by girls who had been evacuated from from the Perth Girls’ Orphanage due to World War II. In 1943, Swan Boys’ and Perth Girls’ orphanages were combined to form…

Perth Boys’ Orphanage

A Church of England orphanage for boys was opened on the same site as the Perth Girls’ Orphanage on 1 June 1869, with four boys admitted. The boys and girls’ orphanages were separated by a ‘five-foot high close-picket fence’. In 1876 the boys were transferred to the new Swan Boys’ orphanage at Middle Swan.

Annesfield

Annesfield, in Albany, was founded as a residential school for Aboriginal children in 1852 by Mr and Mrs Camfield. The first children had been transferred from the Fremantle Native School. The children who were living in Annesfield when it closed in 1871 were transferred to Bishop Hale’s Institution for Native and Half-Caste Children in Perth….

Rottnest Island Reformatory

The Rottnest Island Reformatory was a government-run institution, established in 1881 as an alternative to sending boys younger than 16 to gaol. It closed in 1902 and boys were sent to the Salvation Army Reformatory School in Collie. The Rottnest Island Reformatory opened in 1881 as an alternative to sending boys ‘of European descent’ who…

Student accounts and wages, Christian Brothers, Western Australia

This Archival Series has 4 Archival Folders from the Christian Brothers which hold registers and other documents relating to financial matters about students. It includes information about child endowment, wages, school fees. These records are primarily about Clontarf students and the records are very incomplete.Sadly because of these gaps information about some students may be…

Religious Registers, Christian Brothers, Western Australia

This series contains records from the Christain Brothers including: registers which record religious ceremonies, participation, membership by students. These records are limited to very specific times and groups of students. There are significant gaps in the three volumes of this collection, and some information about some people may be missing. Access Conditions For access to…