Fairbridge Farm School milk jug, red cottage
Date1960s
Object number00054495
NameJug
MediumMetal, stainless steel.
ClassificationsTools and equipment
Credit LineAustralian National Maritime Museum Collection Gift from Robert Stephens
DescriptionFormer child migrant Robert Stephens purchased this stainless steel jug when the former Fairbridge Farm School in Molong NSW was closed and its property auctioned off in the 1970s. It is imprinted with the word 'RED' for Red Cottage, where Robert spent his childhood.HistoryBetween 1913 and 1967, more than 7,000 British children were sent to Australia by charities such as Fairbridge, Barnardo's, and the Salvation Army. The Fairbridge Farm School in Molong NSW (opened 1937) was one of three farm training schools established under Fairbridge principles in Australia. South African philanthropist Kingsley Fairbridge aimed to alleviate the plight of British slum children by sending them to farm schools in the colonies. The idea was to remove children from impoverishment, while simultaneously developing remote rural areas of the British empire with young white labour.
Supported by the Western Australian government, Kingsley and his wife Ruby established the first Fairbridge Farm School at Pinjarra, south east of Perth in 1913. Fairbridge died in 1924, but the scheme continued. Children lived in cottages under a cottage mother, attended local state schools until they were 14, and then spent 12-18 months training in farm work on the property.SignificanceRobert Stephens was taken to Fairbridge Farm School as an unaccompanied child migrant in 1952. The jug is from Red Cottage on the farm where he spent his childhood.
1930s-1940s
1930s-1940s
1930s-1940s
