Ballarat Orphanage

Ballarat Orphanage was originally the former Ballarat District Orphan Asylum which was first established in 1865. It changed its name to the Ballarat Orphanage in 1909 and then later to the Ballarat Children’s Home in 1968. Online records indicate that over 4000 children, many wards of the State of Victoria, passed through the Orphanage.

Allegations of sexual abuse have also been made against former management and employees of the Orphanage, in particular Mr Hylton Sedgman, who was superintendent of the Orphanage. In 2014, Mr Sedgman was facing 40 charges of carnal knowledge and for the indecent assault of six girls and one boy between 1963 to 1964. At the time, Mr Sedgman was 87 years old and due to his ill-health, the Victorian Office of Public Prosecutions withdrew the charges.

It should be noted that Mr Sedgman in 1964 was investigated by Victoria Police over allegations of sexual and physical abuse and had taken 19 witness statements from children and former staff, ready to lay charges against him. However, due to pressure from the Board of the Orphanage towards the Victorian Chief Commissioner of Police and other political authorities such as the Victorian Attorney General and the Solicitor General, Victoria Police in Ballarat was forced to shelve the investigation that same year. Online research indicates that the Board of the Orphanage was more concerned over the Orphanage’s reputation and bad publicity (especially with the Centenary of the Orphanage coming up in 1965) than the welfare and safety of the children allegedly abused by Mr Sedgman.

Further online court records indicate that Mr Sedgman was a defendant in a matter heard in 2001 involving the State of Victoria and Child and Family Services Ballarat Inc, where the Plaintiff made allegations against Mr Sedgman (who did not show up to the hearing) of sexually abusing her during her four month placement at the Orphanage as a ward of the state.

It is reported also that other staff members of the Orphanage sexually, psychologically, and physically abused children during there placement there.

Moody Law has in the past represented clients who have made allegations of sexual and physical abuse against the State of Victoria whilst placed in a state government institution.

We invite former victims to tell us confidentially what information they may have, and we will explain what options are available to help with these cases.

Call us or complete the confidential enquiry form below.