Henry Parkes and the Development of Industrial and Reformatory Schools in Colonial New South Wales

This paper will deal with the political and administrative involvement of Henry Parkes in the establishment of government Industrial and Reformatory Schools in New South Wales through the Industrial and Reformatory Acts of 1866. The 1866 legislation of the Martin-Parkes ministry had its origins in the various government enquiries into the problem of child destitution and delinquency during the 1850's. Parkes himself chaired one such enquiry (The Select Committee on the Proposed Nautical School, 1854) and was a persistent and enthusiastic advocate of the nautical training approach to the treatment of destitute and neglected boys. As Colonial Secretary in 1867 Parkes was responsible for both the establishment of the Nautical School Ship Vernon and the Girls' Industrial School, Newcastle. Parkes' role in providing patronage and constant political support for the N.S.W. Vernon as well as his relative neglect of the Girls' Industrial School will be examined in some detail. The influence of overseas theories, models and approaches on Parkes' ideas and thinking concerning child social welfare will be a consideration

Christian ministry · Colonialism · Government (linguistics · Legislation · Neglect · Political science · Politics · Psychiatry · Sociology · Welfare · Australian History and Society · History · Law · Medicine · Public Administration

• Childhood and youth in Australia

  Penelope Hetherington•Journal of Australian Studies•1986

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