Windback Wednesday - Caroline Emily Clark

Caroline Emily Clark (1825–1911) was a philanthropist and social reformer. Born in England, she migrated with her family in 1850, settling in Hazelwood Park. Inspired by her mother’s charitable work, Caroline Emily focused on improving the care of children living in institutions. She advocated for the boarding out system, inspired by a Scottish model, which sought to replace institutional care for children living at the Destitute Asylum with family placements. She founded the Boarding Out Society, which voluntarily assisted the Destitute Board in supervising the system. Caroline Emily’s advocacy led to the transfer of many children from the Destitute Asylum into suitable family homes. By 1888, nearly 700 of the 800 'state' children were boarded out, and similar systems were adopted in New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania.

In 1886 the Boarding Out Society was restructured as the State Children's Council, of which Caroline Emily remained a member until her retirement 1905.

Image: Caroline Clark, circa 1903. State Library of South Australia, B47543