British Penny
Maker
Royal Mint
Date1917
Object number00056063
NameCoin
MediumMetal
DimensionsOverall: 24 × 24 × 1 mm
ClassificationsCoins and medals
Credit LineAustralian National Maritime Museum Collection Gift from Robert Stephens
DescriptionThis collection of old fifteen pennies and half pennies were given to British child migrant Robert Stephens by his mother and uncle as part of his 'British heritage'. He arrived in Australia at the age of nine as an unaccompanied child migrant.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.SignificanceThese coins reflect Robert Stephens' enduring attachment to his English homeland and his family. Robert’s story is typical of many former child migrants, who contrary to popular belief, were not orphans but came from broken homes or families struggling financially.