Thank you to everyone for the helpful information about the Ballarat orphange, especially the 'cafs' website. My ancestors must have been among the first children at the orphanage as their father was written up in the Vic Police Gazette in 1860 and 1861 for desertion when the children were not even six years old. Thier mother went to the Ballarat Benevolent Home and died alone in 1878 in the Kew Lunatic Asylum. I'm presuming the children lived at the orphanage for many years...hence my interest in the records. Once again, my grateful thanks for the replies. I did drive around Ballarat for quite a while and no doubt passed the Orphanage given the descriptions you have provided! I certainly will get back there in the not too distant future. Regards, Maureen