The archives contain some interesting insights relating to the expansion of both Monte Pio Girls and Murray Dwyer Boys homes and the general routine and living conditions at the homes.

Read correspondence between the Diocese and the Department of Immigration, concerning the financial position in relation to the building operations at both homes, in order to adequately provide for immigrant children.

There are two files relating to Monte Pio and Murray Dwyer in the National Archives, the file numbers are 302432 and 302433. To check out these files on-line, click on either of the URL addresses below.

Murray Dwyer Boys Orphanage, Mayfield. Monte Pio Girls Orphanage, West Maitland (302433) (243 pages)

Murray Dwyer Boys Orphanage, Mayfield and Monte Pio Girls Orphanage, West Maitland (302432 ) (259 pages)

• To read about the living conditions at Monte Pio go to pages 238 – 243 in file number 302433.
• For living conditions at Murray Dwyer go to pages 214 – 220 in the same file.
• For a list of other Catholic Children’s Homes in NSW applying for recognition as “approved institutions” for the purpose of child migration from the United Kingdom, go to page 189 in file number 302433.

For a fee you can apply on-line for a photocopy of the file to be sent to you.

The National Archives collect, protect and provide access to millions of physical items and billions of digital records about Australia and Australians and will continue to do so into the future.

National Archives of Australia, Head Office, Canberra
Tel: + 61 2 6212 3600
Email: archives@naa.gov.au