Do you have an ancestor that spent time at the Westbrook Reformatory for Boys, formerly the Diamantina Reformatory School for Boys, between 1871 and 1906? Discover when your ancestor was admitted, his age, and birth year.
Do you have an ancestor that spent time at the Westbrook Reformatory for Boys, formerly the Diamantina Reformatory School for Boys, between 1871 and 1906? Discover when your ancestor was admitted, his age, and birth year.
This collection is comprised of transcripts of the entries in the school admission registers from the Westbrook Reformatory for Boys. These transcripts are provided under creative commons and are free to view. Each transcript will provide the following details:
Full name
Aliases
Age
Birth year
Year and event date
State and country
Admission number
Image and item ID
QSA reference
These records are from the Westbrook Reformatory for Boys (formerly known as the Diamantina Reformatory School for Boys), the government-run industrial and reformatory school situated in Westbrook. The school admitted boys under the age of 18 who were deemed neglected or who were convicted of a crime and were sentenced to the reformatory school. The duration of a sentence would vary from individual to individual but generally lasted a handful of years. Some boys, however, were released to orphanages before the expiration of their sentence.
The practice of sending neglected or convicted boys to reformatory schools came about following the passing of the Industrial and Reformatory Schools Act of 1865. The term "neglected" was broadly defined in the act and applied to seven different situations. For example, a neglected child could refer to both a child who was living on the streets and one who had committed a crime punishable by imprisonment. It is important to note, however, that the seventh and final definition for "neglected child" reads, "Any child born of an aboriginal of half-caste mother." As a result, many Aboriginal children were deemed "neglected" and subsequently sent to reformatory and industrial schools. The act was repealed in 1911 with the passing of the State Children Act 1911. You can read the Industrial and Reformatory Schools Act of 1865 in its entirety by following the link in the Useful Links & Resources section.
The most common offense for boys sent to Westbrook was larceny. Parents of boys sent to Westbrook were expected to provide monetary assistance for the duration of their sons’ stay at the reformatory school.
In 1919, the Westbrook Reformatory for Boys became known as the Farm Home for Boys, Westbrook. This followed the appointment of Thomas Jones as the superintendent of the reformatory in 1916. Jones turned Westbrook into an almost fully self-sustained operation. The boys would work the farm, gardens, dairy, and orchard; each boy had their own garden plot where they could grow produce and flowers to sell, the proceeds of which would be put in a bank account under the boy’s name.
After the passing of the State Children Act of 1911, the reformatory was placed under the management of the State Children Department.
Images can be viewed online at the Queensland State Archives by searching by the image ID found on your ancestor’s transcript. A link to the Queensland State Archives can be found in the Useful Links & Resources section. Images provide an abundance of useful information regarding you ancestor:
Height and weight
Chest measurements
Complexion
Hair and eye color
Birth place
Previous trade or occupation
Place tried, by whom convicted, and offence
Date and particulars of conviction
Dates and particulars of previous convictions
Parents’ names, occupations, and address
Religious denomination
Expiration date of sentence
Discharge date
Additional remarks