As previously stated in the previous post 'Children and Institutional Care...The Year 1904' I wrote about St. Joseph's Girls' Orphanage a Catholic Church institution run by the Sisters of Mercy. Not all children in the early part of the 19th century were fortunate enough to be part of a family living in a street in the newly created suburb of Subiaco. Many children found themselves in State or church run organisations that provided for their basic needs. However, there was also a government run institution, the Government Industrial School.
The Government Industrial School which was established at Claisebrook in 1893 and moved to Subiaco in 1897 and was located on the corner of Railway Parade and Barker Road, Subiaco. The 'Find and Connect' government webpage has history and information about Australian orphanages, children's homes and other institutions and photos including the Government Industrial School (1893 - 1907) and the Industrial Schools Act 1874 that defined the circumstances in which children could be placed there or incarcerated in goal.
The School was also known via alternative names such as the Government Industrial School and Receiving Depot, the Government Industrial School for Boys and Girls and the Government Industrial School and Receiving Depot for Boys and Girls. It was originally set up to cater for girls and then older children including boys requiring placement within the wider community.
So what was it like for these children living at this state run home ? The homes both state and church run were inspected and reported on to the public through the various newspapers at the time such as The Daily News.
By the year 1905 the year after the report provided by Mr James Longmore, the Inspector of Industrial School and Charities on the previous post there was growing concern in Perth and Western Australia about the care of some children. In 1874 under the Industrial Schools Act defined the circumstances in which they could be placed there or incarcerated in jail. Nine institutions for the care of children were established during this time. These circumstances are described from the legislation in the article below.
In 1905 a reporter from The Daily News accompanied by Mr Longmore visited the Government Industrial School in Subiaco and made these observations that were published in the paper. The article is available on Trove the database at the National Library of Australia.
WITHOUT PARENTAL LOVE
STATE CHILDREN AT SUBIACO 11 January 1905 The Daily News
"...In 1874 the Government came to the rescue of those neglected mitos - many of who had developed into criminal Fagans in miniature - and under the Industrial Schools Act 1874, provided machinery by means of which no fewer than nine homes for children have been established..."
"...On Monday afternoon a representative of "The Daily News" accompanied Mr. James Longmore, the Inspector of Industrial School and Charities to the State industrial and receiving Department for boys and girls at Subiaco. This home was established in 1804, and ably conducted by Mr. and Mrs J. M. Shipton, who act as master and matron respectively. There were nearly 70 children there, and their ages range from 18 months to 15 years.
SCOPE OF THE HOME
Mr. Longmore stated that 452 children were taken into the various institutions during the year ended December 31, 1904. Roman Catholic institutions 205, Church of England institutions 137, Salvation Army 53, and the Receiving Depot, Subiaco 57. The several denominations were subsidised by the State....
The State Depot at Subiaco cost 1877/13/1 pounds during the same period, and the expenditure for the last year was approximately the same.
Mr Shipton escorted Mr. Longmore and the reporter over the whole institution. The aim of the management was to train the children during their limited stay to learn various essential domestic arts in the case of the girls, and callings in the case of the boys bootmaking and carpentering being the chief occupations taught the later. Girls,were,seen at wash-tubs under an experienced char-wow man, who of course performed the heavy part of the task. In the garden and embryonic orchard a number of boys were delving the loose sandy soil, preparing for future crops, under direction of the gardener.
There is a school house attached to the home, and here a score or two of little boys were at study. They seemed to be taking an interest in their lessons, As Mr. Longmore and the reporter entered the room, without any bidding from the teacher, the boys in the class rose to their feet and saluted. That was clear evidence that their instruction in discipline had not been neglected.
In the playhouse on the girls' side a score of tiny children were amusing themselves and each other. They rose to their feet as the visitors entered. There were fat girls, and thin girls and thin, happy and depressed, dark and fish, pretty and plain, but minus maternal or parental love and care. Only a small majority were orphans. There is comfort in the thought that in most cases the little kiddies are better looked after in the matter of food and clothing and sleeping apartments than they would be in the "houses" whenee they came, but, notwithstanding that everything in their present home is on a satisfactory basis, it is saddening to reflect that the helpless ones must live without a fond mother's care, or a father's caross, and the love of both.
CHILDHOOD IS CLOUDED
Their only consolation is in the fact they're better off they would be left to the "tender mercies" of those who are responsible for the entry on to the stage of life.
The Subiaco institution was largely a receiving depot, that is the boys and girls are sent there temporarily, and when all the necessary information about them is available, they are drafted out to one of the other institutions.
WHERE NEGLECTED CHILDREN COME FROM
Mr Longmore provided the reporter with information which proved that the metropolitan area yields up a considerable proportion of neglected kiddies. He added that a boy or girl under the age of 16 years is deemed to be neglected child within the meaning of the Act, and a child is deemed to be neglected who answers to any of the following descriptions -
(1) Found begging or receiving alms or being in any street for the purpose of begging or receiving alms.
(2) Found wondering about or frequenting any street, thoroughfare, public house, or place of public transport, or sleeping in the open air, and who shall not have any house or settled place of abode or any visible means of subsistence.
(3) Who shall reside in any brothel, or associate or dwell with any person known or reputed to be a thief, prostitute, or drunkard, or with any person convicted of vagrancy under any Act how or hereafter to be in force.
(4) Who, having committed an offence punishable with imprisonment, or some loss punishment, ought, nevertheless, in the opinion of the Justices
regard being had to age of such child and the circumstances of the case - to be sent to Industrial School
(5) Whose parent represents that he wishes such child to be sent to an Industrial School, and gives security, to the satisfaction of the Justices before whom such child may be brought, of the maintenance of such child in such school.
(6) Under 14 years of age certified in writing by the Chairman of a District Board of Education to be habitually absent from school and beyond the control of his parents.
At the Subiaco depot the children are given an insight in bee culture and poultry farming, and their musical talents are not neglected, for a drum and life band, which has established a prize-winning reputation is in existence. Mr and Mrs Shipton must be heartily congratulated on the epic and span appearance of the home and its direct surroundings..."
The Government Industrial School in 1907 from The Find and Connection webpage.
STATE CHILDREN AT SUBIACO 11 January 1905 The Daily News
"...In 1874 the Government came to the rescue of those neglected mitos - many of who had developed into criminal Fagans in miniature - and under the Industrial Schools Act 1874, provided machinery by means of which no fewer than nine homes for children have been established..."
"...On Monday afternoon a representative of "The Daily News" accompanied Mr. James Longmore, the Inspector of Industrial School and Charities to the State industrial and receiving Department for boys and girls at Subiaco. This home was established in 1804, and ably conducted by Mr. and Mrs J. M. Shipton, who act as master and matron respectively. There were nearly 70 children there, and their ages range from 18 months to 15 years.
SCOPE OF THE HOME
Mr. Longmore stated that 452 children were taken into the various institutions during the year ended December 31, 1904. Roman Catholic institutions 205, Church of England institutions 137, Salvation Army 53, and the Receiving Depot, Subiaco 57. The several denominations were subsidised by the State....
The State Depot at Subiaco cost 1877/13/1 pounds during the same period, and the expenditure for the last year was approximately the same.
Mr Shipton escorted Mr. Longmore and the reporter over the whole institution. The aim of the management was to train the children during their limited stay to learn various essential domestic arts in the case of the girls, and callings in the case of the boys bootmaking and carpentering being the chief occupations taught the later. Girls,were,seen at wash-tubs under an experienced char-wow man, who of course performed the heavy part of the task. In the garden and embryonic orchard a number of boys were delving the loose sandy soil, preparing for future crops, under direction of the gardener.
There is a school house attached to the home, and here a score or two of little boys were at study. They seemed to be taking an interest in their lessons, As Mr. Longmore and the reporter entered the room, without any bidding from the teacher, the boys in the class rose to their feet and saluted. That was clear evidence that their instruction in discipline had not been neglected.
In the playhouse on the girls' side a score of tiny children were amusing themselves and each other. They rose to their feet as the visitors entered. There were fat girls, and thin girls and thin, happy and depressed, dark and fish, pretty and plain, but minus maternal or parental love and care. Only a small majority were orphans. There is comfort in the thought that in most cases the little kiddies are better looked after in the matter of food and clothing and sleeping apartments than they would be in the "houses" whenee they came, but, notwithstanding that everything in their present home is on a satisfactory basis, it is saddening to reflect that the helpless ones must live without a fond mother's care, or a father's caross, and the love of both.
CHILDHOOD IS CLOUDED
Their only consolation is in the fact they're better off they would be left to the "tender mercies" of those who are responsible for the entry on to the stage of life.
The Subiaco institution was largely a receiving depot, that is the boys and girls are sent there temporarily, and when all the necessary information about them is available, they are drafted out to one of the other institutions.
WHERE NEGLECTED CHILDREN COME FROM
Mr Longmore provided the reporter with information which proved that the metropolitan area yields up a considerable proportion of neglected kiddies. He added that a boy or girl under the age of 16 years is deemed to be neglected child within the meaning of the Act, and a child is deemed to be neglected who answers to any of the following descriptions -
(1) Found begging or receiving alms or being in any street for the purpose of begging or receiving alms.
(2) Found wondering about or frequenting any street, thoroughfare, public house, or place of public transport, or sleeping in the open air, and who shall not have any house or settled place of abode or any visible means of subsistence.
(3) Who shall reside in any brothel, or associate or dwell with any person known or reputed to be a thief, prostitute, or drunkard, or with any person convicted of vagrancy under any Act how or hereafter to be in force.
(4) Who, having committed an offence punishable with imprisonment, or some loss punishment, ought, nevertheless, in the opinion of the Justices
regard being had to age of such child and the circumstances of the case - to be sent to Industrial School
(5) Whose parent represents that he wishes such child to be sent to an Industrial School, and gives security, to the satisfaction of the Justices before whom such child may be brought, of the maintenance of such child in such school.
(6) Under 14 years of age certified in writing by the Chairman of a District Board of Education to be habitually absent from school and beyond the control of his parents.
At the Subiaco depot the children are given an insight in bee culture and poultry farming, and their musical talents are not neglected, for a drum and life band, which has established a prize-winning reputation is in existence. Mr and Mrs Shipton must be heartily congratulated on the epic and span appearance of the home and its direct surroundings..."
The Government Industrial School in 1907 from The Find and Connection webpage.
