Francis Robert Burton
Encyclopedia
Francis Robert Burton was a Public Servant in the early days of South Australia and is remembered for his work in improving penal treatment of delinquent boys.
He was born the second son of Dr. Richard Francis Burton (ca.1810 – 24 February 1874), surgeon, of London
. In 1852 the family migrated to South Australia and built a home "Bexley" in the Adelaide suburb of Sturt
. Dr. Richard Francis Burton, aside from his private medical practice, from 1861 to 1874 provided subsidised medical aid to the poor of the Marion
district. He served as Major in both the local and Adelaide regiments of the South Australian Volunteer Military Force, and was chairman of the District Council of Brighton from 1867 to 1873.
Francis Burton was, in his youth, a fine athlete, successfully competing in walking events. He was a prominent cricketer (listed as "Frank R. Burton"), secretary of the Kensington Cricket Club
, where his older brother James R. Burton was also a member, and one of the first to be given life membership of the South Australian Cricketing Association. In the late 1850s he joined the Volunteer Regiment. Louisa Harriot Burton (died 22 September 1917), who married Eden Herschel Babbage and settled in Roseville, New South Wales
was a sister. His younger brother, William Burton (ca.1848 – 31 May 1913), a banker, was also to settle in Roseville.
In 1865 he joined the Public Service as a clerk in the Crown Lands Office and in the following years was successively transferred to the Immigration Office then the Local Courts. He was appointed Clerk of the Local Court, first in Wallaroo
in 1877, Port Adelaide in 1879, then Adelaide on March 1, 1894.
was under construction but Burton was convinced boys would less likely to be drawn into a life of crime if they had a separate court and different treatment. He felt that miscreant boys should be tried in a Children's Court, where possible without publication of their names; if found guilty sent for a short time to a reformatory at their parents' expense. These suggestions, made before the Destitute Commission in 1884, with the support of R. Turner, S.M. of Port Adelaide and Sub-inspector Doyle, were accepted and resulted in the formation of the State Children's Department.
In 1888 he received permission to run, at his own expense and in his Glanville
home, a trial scheme where recalcitrant boys were treated with respect and good example. The scheme ran for several years and had numerous successes, though as J. A. Hartley observed, this could could have been " ... because the boys feel that he takes an interest in their welfare, probably a new experience for many of them."
He retired at age 75 after several years of indifferent health, to his home in Belair
, then moved to Roseville, New South Wales
, where his brother-in law Eden Herschel Babbage had a home and was deeply involved with the community. He commissioned a large pavilion to be built at Roseville Park, completed in 1915. This was shortly after the death of brother William, of whose will Eden Herschel Babbage and son Francis Eden Babbage were executors.
He was born the second son of Dr. Richard Francis Burton (ca.1810 – 24 February 1874), surgeon, of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. In 1852 the family migrated to South Australia and built a home "Bexley" in the Adelaide suburb of Sturt
Sturt, South Australia
Sturt is a suburb of Adelaide in the City of Marion local government area. It was named after the explorer Captain Charles Sturt.Sturt is in the South Australian House of Assembly electoral district of Mitchell and the Australian House of Representatives Division of Boothby.-History:The first...
. Dr. Richard Francis Burton, aside from his private medical practice, from 1861 to 1874 provided subsidised medical aid to the poor of the Marion
Marion, South Australia
Marion is a suburb located in the City of Marion in Adelaide around 10 km south-west from the CBD. Founded as a rural village in 1838 on the banks of the Sturt River, Marion was found to have rich soil and the population expanded rapidly...
district. He served as Major in both the local and Adelaide regiments of the South Australian Volunteer Military Force, and was chairman of the District Council of Brighton from 1867 to 1873.
Francis Burton was, in his youth, a fine athlete, successfully competing in walking events. He was a prominent cricketer (listed as "Frank R. Burton"), secretary of the Kensington Cricket Club
Kensington Cricket Club
The Kensington District Cricket Club is a semi-professional cricket club in Adelaide, South Australia. It competes in the South Australian Grade Cricket League, which is administered by the South Australian Cricket Association .-Location:...
, where his older brother James R. Burton was also a member, and one of the first to be given life membership of the South Australian Cricketing Association. In the late 1850s he joined the Volunteer Regiment. Louisa Harriot Burton (died 22 September 1917), who married Eden Herschel Babbage and settled in Roseville, New South Wales
Roseville, New South Wales
Roseville is a suburb on the Upper North Shore of Sydney in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Roseville is located north-west of the Sydney central business district and sits across the local government areas of Ku-ring-gai and Willoughby...
was a sister. His younger brother, William Burton (ca.1848 – 31 May 1913), a banker, was also to settle in Roseville.
In 1865 he joined the Public Service as a clerk in the Crown Lands Office and in the following years was successively transferred to the Immigration Office then the Local Courts. He was appointed Clerk of the Local Court, first in Wallaroo
Wallaroo, South Australia
Wallaroo is a port town on the western side of Yorke Peninsula in South Australia, 160 kilometres north-northwest of Adelaide. It is one of the three Copper Triangle towns famed for their historic shared copper mining industry, and known together as "Little Cornwall", the other two being Kadina ...
in 1877, Port Adelaide in 1879, then Adelaide on March 1, 1894.
Youth Penal Reform
While at Wallaroo he founded a boys' club but his real involvement with youth welfare began with his Adelaide appointment. At that time boys were tried in the same court as adult men, and if convicted were sent to a hulk in the Port River. The new Reformatory at MagillMagill, South Australia
Magill is a suburb of Adelaide in the City of Burnside and the City of Campbelltown.-History:Magill is a suburb located approximately 7 km from the Adelaide CBD in the eastern suburbs. Magill was first established as the Makgill Estate, owned by two Scots, Robert Cock and William Ferguson,...
was under construction but Burton was convinced boys would less likely to be drawn into a life of crime if they had a separate court and different treatment. He felt that miscreant boys should be tried in a Children's Court, where possible without publication of their names; if found guilty sent for a short time to a reformatory at their parents' expense. These suggestions, made before the Destitute Commission in 1884, with the support of R. Turner, S.M. of Port Adelaide and Sub-inspector Doyle, were accepted and resulted in the formation of the State Children's Department.
In 1888 he received permission to run, at his own expense and in his Glanville
Glanville, South Australia
Glanville is a north western suburb of Adelaide, in the City of Port Adelaide Enfield.- See also :* Glanville railway station...
home, a trial scheme where recalcitrant boys were treated with respect and good example. The scheme ran for several years and had numerous successes, though as J. A. Hartley observed, this could could have been " ... because the boys feel that he takes an interest in their welfare, probably a new experience for many of them."
He retired at age 75 after several years of indifferent health, to his home in Belair
Belair, South Australia
Belair is a suburb situated in the southern foothills of Adelaide, South Australia.-Geography:A leafy suburb, Belair was established during the settlement of Adelaide as a source of timber. Parts of Belair have views of the city of Adelaide, the Adelaide Plains and the coast...
, then moved to Roseville, New South Wales
Roseville, New South Wales
Roseville is a suburb on the Upper North Shore of Sydney in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Roseville is located north-west of the Sydney central business district and sits across the local government areas of Ku-ring-gai and Willoughby...
, where his brother-in law Eden Herschel Babbage had a home and was deeply involved with the community. He commissioned a large pavilion to be built at Roseville Park, completed in 1915. This was shortly after the death of brother William, of whose will Eden Herschel Babbage and son Francis Eden Babbage were executors.