Ballarat District Orphan Asylum (1865 - 1909)

The Ballarat District Orphan Asylum, 19 May 1866 -
Details

From: 1865
To: 1909
Categories: Care Provider, Home, Non-denominational and Orphanage

The Ballarat District Orphan Asylum was established in 1865 and run by a non-denominational board of management. The Orphanage farm was established in 1869. In 1909, the institution became known as the Ballarat Orphanage.

The Ballarat District Orphan Asylum was established in 1865, in response to widespread community concern about the lack of services for neglected, abandoned and destitute children, during the widespread upheaval of the gold rush years.

It was run by a non-denominational (but nominally Protestant) board of management. The Orphan Asylum was originally located in Victoria Street, Ballarat.

The annual report for 1866 stated that Mr and Mrs Finlay ('well known as public teachers') had been appointed as the institution's first superintendent and matron. The first children were admitted to the Orphan Asylum in October 1865.

The Orphanage farm was established in 1869. A swimming pool (said to be the 'first of its kind in any charitable institution in the colony') was built at the Ballarat Orphan Asylum in 1870.

In 1871, the Superintendent was Mr H.B. Sadleir.

In 1909, the institution became known as the Ballarat Orphanage.

Location

1865? - 1909?: Address - Ballarat District Orphan Asylum was located at 200 Victoria Street, Ballarat. Location: Ballarat

Related Events

Related Organisations

Ballarat Benevolent Asylum (c. 1859 - 1960?)
Before the Ballarat District Orphan Asylum was established in 1865, many children were accommodated at the Ballarat Benevolent Asylum.

Publications

Reports

Committee of Management of the Ballarat District Orphan Asylum, The Second Annual Report of the Committee of Management of the Ballarat District Orphan Asylum - with the rules and regulations of the institution - 1866, W. L. Mullen, Ballarat, 1867, 18 pp. Details
Committee of Management of the Ballarat District Orphan Asylum, The Sixth Annual Report of the Committee of Management of the Ballarat District Orphan Asylum, with the Rules and Regulations of the Institution; A List of All Subsriptions Used During the Year 1870, and a Financial Statement from January 1st, to December 31st, 1870., W. L. Mullen, Ballarat, 1871, 20 pp. Details

Online Resources

'Ballarat Orphanage and Children's Homes', in Child and Family Services Ballarat Website, Child and Family Services Ballarat, https://web.archive.org/web/20190305015108/https://cafs.org.au/heritage-centre/ballarat-orphanage-and-childrens-home/. Details
Golding, Frank, 'Lost & Found: State Children in Victoria', in Frank Golding: author, researcher, historian and consultant specialising in child welfare, Frank Golding, 27 July 2017, http://frankgolding.com/lost-and-found-state-children-in-victoria-1/. Details

Photos

Title: The Ballarat District Orphan Asylum
Type: Image
Date: 19 May 1866 -

Details

Title: Bye-laws relating to the Admission and Removal of Children
Type: Document
Date: 1867
Source: Child and Family Services Ballarat

Details

Title: Ballarat District Orphan Asylum, the Second Annual Report of the Committee of Management
Type: Document
Date: 1867
Source: Child and Family Services Ballarat

Details

Title: Ballarat District Orphan Asylum, the Sixth Annual Report of the Committee of Management
Type: Document
Date: 1871
Source: Child and Family Services Ballarat

Details

Title: Ballarat East, Vic.
Type: Image
Date: 1893

Details

Sources used to compile this entry: 'Ballarat Orphanage and Children's Homes', in Child and Family Services Ballarat Website, Child and Family Services Ballarat, https://web.archive.org/web/20190305015108/https://cafs.org.au/heritage-centre/ballarat-orphanage-and-childrens-home/.

Prepared by: Cate O'Neill

Created: 13 February 2009, Last modified: 16 August 2013

Ballarat District Orphan Asylum (1865 - 1909)