Records of Fairbridge Society [M1841-1845], [19--] [microform]

Records of Fairbridge Society were digitised as part of the Australian Joint Copying Project. They are microfilm copies of originals held by the Fairbridge Society, London and Liverpool University Archives, UK. This collection has records relating to the Northcote Farm School in Bacchus Marsh, one of the Victorian institutions to receive child migrants. Although Northcote Farm School was run by a non-denominational management committee (the Northcote Trust), it was based on Fairbridge principles.

Access Conditions

Open access. Available for reference.

Records

These records primarily relate to the management of the Fairbridge Society (e.g. Executive Committee and Board minutes). More details about the contents of the Records of Fairbridge Society are available from the State Library of Victoria catalogue.

The Northcote Trust, which ran the Northcote Farm School in Bacchus Marsh, operated independently of the Fairbridge Society. Northcote Farm School was based on Fairbridge principles, and the Fairbridge Society was represented by a position on the Northcote Trust Board. There was also a financial arrangement between the two organisations regarding the administration of the children prior to leaving the UK.

One of the microfilm reels – Reel 1843 – specifically contains records about the Northcote Trust and the Northcote Farm School, dated between 1936 and 1967. These records include:

• lists of children residing on the farm
• periodic reports on individual children
• references to incidents involving children

According to records on Reel 1843, from 1947 the Northcote Trust began to transfer individual case files of children who had left the farm to Vera Grenfell who was the Secretary of the Northcote Children’s Emigration Fund for Australia located in London. Her role included aftercare of former residents.

The State Library of Victoria’s reference number for Reel 1843 is MS AJCP M1843.