Alexandra Babies’ Home (1909–74)

Alexandra Babies Home history in brief

In 1909, a committee of management established the Alexandra Babies' Home on the same site as the Ballarat Town and City Mission Rescue and Children's Home, 183 Scott Parade.

It housed up to 36 children aged 15 months to 15 years, including children with disabilities. They were transferred to the Ballarat Orphanage when they turned four. Most were state wards.

In the late 1930s, the home comprised three dormitories, a dining room, a large rumpus room, two bathrooms and toilets, and a kitchen. It also had three small playgrounds and a kindergarten.

In 1964, the home changed its name to the Alexandra Toddlers' Home and moved to 187 Scott Parade, Ballarat.
By early 1970, Allambie Reception Centre in Burwood intake had reached capacity which extended the working life of Alexandra Toddlers' Home for at least a further two to three years.

Alexandra Toddlers' Home closed in 1974.

Warning about distressing information

This guide contains information that some people may find distressing. If you experienced abuse as a child or young person in an institution mentioned in this guide, it may be a difficult reading experience. Guides may also contain references to previous views, policies and practices that are regrettable and do not reflect the current views, policies or practices of the department or the State of Victoria. If you find this content distressing, please consult with a support person either from the Department of Health and Human Services or another agency.

Disclaimer

Please note that the content of this administrative history is provided for general information only and does not purport to be comprehensive. The department does not guarantee the accuracy of this administrative history. For more information on the history of child welfare in Australia, see Find & Connect.

Source

• Guide to out-of-home care services 1940–2000: volume one – agency descriptions, compiled by James Jenkinson Consulting, North Melbourne, November 2001.
• Archival Services agency history files

List of records held by the department

For information relating to the central management of care leavers and wards of state, please consult the guide to Central department wardship and out-of-home care records. These collections date back to the 1860s and include ward registers, index cards and ward files.

Voluntary children’s homes files (c.1930–c.1985)

File; Permanent VPRS Number 18069 / P0002

Content: The files record interaction between the various voluntary homes and the government. This filing system was created in 1975, combining earlier correspondence and other records to create one system with VH prefixes.

The specific file(s) relating to Alexandra Infants Home dates from 1941–75 and includes:

• ward-names, dates of birth and ward of state numbers, 17 December 1942
• inspectors’ and official visit reports, 1945–73
• diphtheria immunisation for wards at the home, 1947
• brief notes on children (including wards), 16 April 1973
• lists of wards, c.1954, 1960
• list of wards suggested for foster placement, 1962
• list of wards and infant life protection children, 1963
• list of wards and family details, 1973
• list of staff, 1960
• correspondence regarding named ward, 1957
• Sunbury school visit, 1957
• documentation of an allegation and investigation, 1960
• press clipping, financial state of home, 1960
• transport of wards
• departmental report on the home, 1972
• press clippings, closure of the home, 1973
• correspondence with department: category of children to 2.5 years, 1941; maintenance cost comparisons, 1946; staffing, allocations, 1951; costs incurred, 1946; ward transfers and staff shortages, 1973
• statistical assessments of children previously placed at Alexandra and Overton homes, 1975.
  
  

Family Welfare Division funding and accounts files (1971–77)

File; Temporary

Content: These accounts and funding files are for individual children’s homes and are used to make allocations. They contain a monthly census giving names and dates of birth to calculate per capita expenses. There are annual reports of homes, income statements, reports on conditions of homes as assessed on visits.

The records are arranged in a broad chronological order.

The specific file(s) relating to this home date from 1971–74.

Child placement records (c.1940–69)

File; Unappraised

Content: This is a single file that contains around 200 single sheets that record information about children placed at Alexandra Babies Home. There are several different forms used to record information but there is only one form per child.

Each of the forms records slightly different information which may include:

• institution (name)
• name (of child)
• date and place of birth
• date admitted or committed
• reason for admission or committal
• ward number
• religion
• date term expires (at child’s age of 18 years)
• court (where case may have been heard)
• case history (describes circumstances surrounding the child’s admission or committal)
• dated entries recording initial and subsequent observations about the child that may note movements, health and condition, and if the child was transferred to another institution
• father (name and address)
• mother (name and address)
• location (shows where the child has been placed since committal)
• district
• cause of transfer (may be either transfer to or from the home, or blank).

The records are arranged in alphabetical order by children’s names. Given the nature of the records, it is likely that they were created by government officers dealing with placement of children and monitoring their care in babies’ homes.

It is also likely that if the child was a ward, information in these records will also be found on the child’s ward file.

In the absence of formal case files for the children who were resident at Alexandra Babies’ Home, these records may provide some case information about their time there.