The Public Charities Act 1873 also known as “An Act to make provision in respect of the Maintenance of Indigent Persons” (Act no. 37 Vict. No.15) enabled the government to assist poor people who were not living in an institution. It also provided for children under the age of 16, who were orphaned, deserted or surrendered by their parents, to be boarded out, that is, placed in foster care. The Charitable Grants Department was established in 1873 to administer the Act. This legislation was repealed by Public Welfare Institutions Act 1935 (Act no. 26 Geo. V No.15) on 27 August 1935.
Tasmania was one of the first Australian colonies to have a boarding-out system.
Boarded out children would be would be supervised by a ‘Committee for Boarding-Out Destitute Children’.