Between 1922 and 1967 about 150,000 children with an average age of eight years and nine months were shipped from Great Britain to help populate the British Dominions of Canada, Rhodesia, New Zealand and Australia with ‘good white stock’.

Estimates of the number of children sent to Australia vary from 3000 to 10,000, most of whom were sent to charitable and religious institutions.

The Australian government welcomed the scheme and encouraged non-government organisations such as Barnados and Fairbridge to continue settling child migrants to help boost the population and eventually contribute to the labour force. However, many child migrants later spoke of the ill-treatment they received in institutions in Australia.

This background note provides a brief overview of the historical and political context surrounding the arrival of child migrants from the UK. It includes background on government policy responses, other relevant responses and links to some of the key resources.