Historical Records of Australia

Series 1, Vol II, p. 532, 533

Lieutenant-Governor King to The Duke of Portland (Extract)

Sydney 9th September 1801

My Lord

The necessity of some immediate steps being taken to save the youth of this colony from the destructive examples of their abandoned parents, and others who they unavoidably associate with, for want of an asylum to draw them from those examples, and from the assurances I have of the success and benefit that has attended an institution of that kind I formed some years ago at Norfolk Island, I have requested the persons named in the enclose to act as a committee for conducting the necessary establishment, and have the honor to enclose their proceedings as far as they have gone. I am sorry it has not been in my power to give it the instant effect it requires by any other means than that of making a conditional purchase of Captain Kent's house and grounds in Sydney for that purpose, and for which I beg to assure your Grace that I had no other motive than the urgent necessity of some steps being immediately taken with the youth of this colony, who, for the most part, are of that age when instruction and example, either good or bad, have their full force; and on those considerations, I humbly submit the propriety of that purchase being allowed of. An extensive and appropriate building is also commencing at Parramatta for the same purpose ( as the house at Sydney will not hold more than one hundred children)