Sir John Middlemore (d. 1924) established the first Emigration Home in Birmingham for orphans and "gutter boys" in 1872. In the same year he established a home for girls. The first party of 29 children sailed for Canada in May 1873. In the 1920s the Canadian Government introduced restrictions on child immigration. The committee therefore turned to Australia and from 1926 onwards formed a close relationship with the Child Emigration Society founded by Kingsley Fairbridge. The last large party of Middlemore children to emigrate left for Australia in 1949, although individual children were sent out for some years afterwards.
From the description of Records [microform]. 1918-1972. (Libraries Australia). WorldCat record id: 225825720