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Kōrero: Children’s homes and fostering

Boys' dormitory, Burnham Industrial School, 1874

Boys' dormitory, Burnham Industrial School, 1874

Industrial schools were government institutions for children. They were first opened in 1867 and operated until 1916, when some were closed and others reorganised. This is a boys' dormitory at the Burnham Industrial School in Christchurch. The barn-like room and spartan furnishings suggest a life of few comforts for the inmates, though the sun spilling through the windows on the right lightens the scene.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Archives New Zealand - Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga

Reference: CW 15 box/item 5*8

Permission of Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga must be obtained before any re-use of this material.

Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang

Kerryn Pollock, Children’s homes and fostering – Government institutions, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/photograph/28563/boys-dormitory-burnham-industrial-school-1874 (accessed 4 June 2026).

He kōrero nā Kerryn Pollock, i tāngia i te 24 March 2011.

Comments

Carol Bolton
26 January 2012
Thanks Sandy for link to the photographs- they provided me with insight into the lives of the children who had lived there and the physical environment of the Burnham Institute and school. My interest began when tracing early family information and found that two/possibly three children of James Whyte and Mary nee Greig were placed at Burnham in February 1885. Their Mother had died in Feb 1884 and their father had been made bankrupt Oct 1884 as not able to find work in the Canterbury area at that time. Two children Elsie ( aged four) and William White(aged 4yrs) at the time they were " made inmates". They had lived and worked at Burnham until 1901.
Sarndra Lees
01 April 2011
Fabulous photos of Burnham Industrial school on Archives NZ site: http://gallery.archives.govt.nz/v/christchurch/interesting+items+website/Burnham+Industrial+School/ Also a Christchurch institution, the Te Oranga Home [later to become The Girls' Training Centre, Burwood and then Kingslea Home].Photo from Christchurch City Library website Christchurch City Library website There are many entries on Te Oranga Home in PapersPast website relating to Te Oranga. Especially the case that came forward c1907 about the care given there. Matron BRANTING who is mentioned in the articles was accused of cutting off the hair of girls as punishment, was the sponsor of my G G aunt Lena KENNEDY who became a ward of the state. Cheers Sandy