The Orphanages Branch of the Public Instruction Department was created to administer The Orphanages Act 1879 which provided for the establishment and management of asylums for orphans as well as deserted and neglected children. The Branch was responsible under the Act for the care of orphaned and deserted and neglected children.The Department ran Townsville Orphanage, Rockhampton Orphanage, Rockhampton Receiving Depot, Diamantina Orphanage, Industrial and Reformatory School for Girls, Toowoomba, Westbrook Reformatory for Boys, Diamantina Reformatory School for Boys and Diamantina Receiving Depot and Infants’ Home. Under the State Children Act 1911 care for children passed to the Home Secretary’s office from 1 December 1911.