The story of Fairbridge commenced a few years after the turn of the 20th century when Kingsley Fairbridge was a student at Oxford University in England and he saw orphanages across Britain full of children whose opportunities and futures were perceived as being bleak, whilst the British colonies cried out for settlers. The establishment of Farm Schools commenced in 1912 shortly after Kingsley and Ruby Fairbridge arrived at Albany in Western Australia. They acquired a parcel of land a few kilometres south of Pinjarra and thus migration of underprivileged children from Britain commenced. Six years later they moved to a much bigger property north of Pinjarra. In 1938 a Farm School was established at Molong in New South Wales, following by schools at Drapers' Hall in Adelaide, Tresca in Tasmania and a school in Canada. Molong closed in 1974 followed by Pinjarra in 1981.

 

Here we attempt to present a small history of Fairbridge Farms predominantly that of Pinjarra, Western Australia through a series of photographs of Fairbridge people and the Fairbridge village, reflections of old Fairbridge people, press cuttings relating to Fairbridge, Fairbridge publications and, of course, communications from and about the most important element  - the children and staff who lived on the Farm, and the administrators and friends of Fairbridge who managed, financed and supported the organisation.

 

On this website are but a few snapshots of the lives of those people who resided at the Fairbridge Farms from establishment in 1912 to present day. The intent of this site is to preserve and share some of Fairbridge's colourful history especially for those Old Fairbridgians and friends of Fairbridge who would like to re-visit some of their history.