59

THE
ADOPTION OF CHILDREN ACTS, 1935 to 1952
Adoption of Children Act of 1935, 26 Geo. 5 No. 7
Amended by
Adoption of Children Act Amendment Act of 1941, 5 Geo. 6 No.7
State Children Acts and Another Act Amendment Act of 1952, 1 Eliz. 2
No.3, Part III
An Act to Make Provision for the Adoption of Infants, and for
purposes incidental thereto or consequent thereon
[Assented to 17 October 1935]
1. Short Title. This Act may be cited as "The Adoption of Children Act
of 1935."
The collective title is the Adoption of Children Acts, 1935 to 1952; Act of
1952, 1 Eliz.2 No.3, s. 17.

2. Commencement. This Act shall come into operation on a day to be

fixed by the Governor in Council by Proclamation published in the
Gazette.
This Act commenced 1 February 1936 by Proclamation 23 January 1936,
Gazette 25 January 1936, p. 208.
3. Interpretation. In this Act, unless the context otherwise indicates, the
following terms have the meanings respectively set against them, that is
to say:-
"Director"-The Director, State Children Department, appointed
under "The State Children Acts, 1911 to 1928";
"District registrar"-A district registrar within the meaning of "The
Registration of Births Deaths and Marriages Act of 1855";
"Minister" means the Home Secretary or other Minister of the
Crown for the time being charged with the administration of
this Act;
"Prescribed"-Prescribed by this Act;
"Registrar-General"-The Registrar-General within the meaning of
"The Registration of Births Deaths and Marriages Act of
1855": the term includes the Deputy Registrar-General within
the meaning of "The Marriage Law Amendment Act of 1870";
"Regulations"-Regulations made under this Act;
"This Act"-This Act and all Orders in Council and regulations
made thereunder.
Acts referred to:
State Children Acts, 1911 to 1955, see p. 99, post.
See now Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages Act of 1962, title
STATISTICS.
Marriage Law Amendment Act of 1870, see title MARRIAGE AND
DIVORCE.
4. Power to make adoptions. (1) Upon an application in the prescribed
manner by any person desirous of being authorised to adopt an infant
under the age of twenty-one years who has never been married, the
60 CHILDREN Vol. 4

Director may, subject to the provisions of this Act, make an order (in this
Act referred to as "an adoption order") authorising the applicant to adopt
that infant.
(2) A person so authorised to adopt the infant, and an infant auth-
orised to be adopted are in this Act referred to as "an adopter" and "an
adopted child," respectively, and "infant" means a person under the age
of twenty-one years.
(3) Where an application is made for an adoption order by two
spouses jointly the Director may make the order authorising the two
spouses jointly to adopt an infant, but, save as aforesaid, in no case shall
he make an adoption order authorising more than one person to adopt
an infant:
Provided that such application may be made by two spouses jointly
notwithstanding that one of such spouses is the natural or adopted parent
of the infant concerned.
Compare the Adoption of Children Act, 1926, s. I (Imperial), 12 Halsbury's
Statutes of England, 2nd ed., p. 962.
Applications, see also s. 18.
Powers of the Director, see also s. 13.
An application may be postponed and an interim order made under s. II.
See further with respect to orders of adoption, s. 18.
Provision for cancellation of adoption orders is made by s. 16.
A child already adopted may be further adopted under s. 12.

5. Restriction on making adoptions. (1) No adoption shall be made in

any case where-
(a) The applicant is under the age of twenty-five years; or
(b) The applicant is less than twenty-one years older than the
infant in respect of whom the application is made:
Provided that where the applicant and the infant are within
the prohibited degrees of consanguinity or, being of the same
sex are of the same blood, it shall be lawful for the Director
if he thinks fit to make the order notwithstanding that the
applicant is under the age of twenty-five years or is less than
twenty-one years older than the infant.
(2) An adoption order may, notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained in this section, be made in favour of two spouses jointly where
one of such spouses is the natural or adopted parent of the infant in
respect of whom the application is made notwithstanding that either or
both of such spouses is or are under the age of twenty-five years or less
than twenty-one years older than such infant.
(3) No adoption shall be made in any case where the sole applicant
is a male and the infant in respect of whom the application is made is a
female unless the Director is satisfied that there are special circumstances
which justify, as an exceptional measure, the making of an adoption order.
( 4) Before an adoption order can be made the consent, in writing,
shall be obtained of every person or body who or which is a parent or
guardian of the infant in respect of whom the application is made or who
has the actual custody of the infant or who is liable to contribute to the
support of the infant. In the case of an illegitimate child the consent of
the mother (if living in the State) only will be required:
Provided that the Director may dispense with any consent required
by this subsection if satisfied that the person whose consent is to be
dispensed with has abandoned or deserted the infant or cannot be found
 ADOPTION ETC. ACTS, 1935 TO 1952 ss.4·5 61

or is incapable of giving such consent, or being a person liable to con-

tribute to the support of the infant either has persistently neglected or
refused to contribute to such support or is a person whose consent ought,
in the opinion of the Director and in all the circumstances of the case,
to be dispensed with.
(5) An adoption order shall not be made upon the application of
one of two spouses without the consent of the other of them: provided
that the Director may dispense with any consent required by this sub-
section if satisfied that the person whose consent is to be dispensed with
cannot be found or is incapable of giving such consent or that the spouses
have separated and are living apart and that the separation is likely to be
permanent.
(6) No adoption order shall be made in favour of any applicant
who is not resident and domiciled in the State of Queensland or who is
not a British subject and so resident.
Compare the Adoption of Children Act, 1926, s. 2 (Imperial), 12 Halsbury's
Statutes of England, 2nd cd., p. 962.
Prohibited degrees of consanguinity and affinity, see the Second Schedule to the
Commonwealth Matrimonial Causes Act, 1959, and 19 Halsbury's Laws of England,
3rd ed., p. 782; domicil, see 7 Halsbury's Laws of England, 3rd cd., p. 14.
As to who is a British subject, see the Nationality and Citizenship Act 1948·
1960 (Commonwealth).
With regard to the effectiveness beyond the bounds of this State of adoptions
under this Act, see Re an Infant (1934), 34 S.R.(N.S.W.) 349. The Act on which
that case was decided contained no such provision as subsection (6) of this section.
The parents' consent to an adoption must be operative at the very moment
when the order is made. Semble the section does not preclude the withdrawal of
such consent at any time before the order is made. Re Hollyman, [1945] I All
E.R.290.
On the application of the proviso to subsection (4) of this section, see the
judgment of Herring, c.J., in R. v. M., [1946] V.L.R. 106. The words "or is a
person whose consent ought, in the opinion of the Director and in all the circum-
stances of the case, to be dispensed with" are not limited to persons liable to
contribute to the support of the child, but are intended to apply to any person
whose consent is required under the enacting part of this subsection (Harris v.
Hawkins, [1947] K.B. 463; 63 T.L.R. 207; [1947] 1 All E.R. 312), followed and
applied in Re A.B., an Infant, [1950] V.L.R. 1; 57 A.L.R. 152.
Quaere whether an order authorising the adoption of an illegitimate child by
its natural grandparents is outside the scope of this legislation. If not, it should be
made only in special circumstances, never as a matter of course. See Re D.X. (an
infant), [1949] 1 Ch. 320; 65 T.L.R. 210.
In R. v. Biggin, Ex parte Fry, [1955] V.L.R. 36; [1955] A.L.R. 222, the
unmarried mother of a female child, having signed a consent to the adoption of
it freely and with full knowledge of the nature and effect thereof, about six weeks
later informed a solicitor who had been employed by the proposed adopters'
solicitor to obtain her consent, that she wanted the child back. He did not com·
municate the fact of such interview to the proposed adopters and a month later
a court of petty sessions made an adoption order. The mother of the child obtained
from Herring, C.J., an order nisi for a writ of certiorari to quash the adoption
order, against which the proposed adopters appealed. The Full Court, holding that
a withdrawal of a written consent to adoption does not operate until it is com-
municated either to the court or to the proposed adopter, allowed the appeal, set
aside the order of the Chief Justice and discharged the order nisi for a writ of
certiorari.
On the question of the welfare of the child cf. Re Murray (1954), 55
S.R.(N.S.W.) 88.
On the question of dispensing with any consent required by subsection (4)
cf. Re D. (an infant), [1958] 1 All E.R. 427, where the Court of Appeal dis-
tinguished Hitchcock v. W.B. & F.E.B., [1952] 2 All E.R. 119.
See also Re S.S., an Infant, [1961] V.R. 3.
62 CHILDREN Vol. 4

6. Matters with respect to which Director to be satisfied. The Director

before making an adoption order shall be satisfied-
(a) That every person whose consent is necessary under this Act
and whose consent is not dispensed with has consented to and
understands the nature and effect of the adoption order for
which application is made and, in particular in the case of any
parent, understands that the effect of the adoption order will
be permanently to deprive him or her of his or her parental
rights; and
(b) That the order if made will be for the promotion of the future
welfare and interests of the infant, due consideration being for
this purpose given to the wishes of the infant, having regard
to the age and understanding of the infant; and
(c) That the applicant or any other person whomsoever has not
received or agreed to receive, and that no person has made or
given or agreed to make or give to the applicant or any other
person whomsoever, any payment or other reward in consid-
eration of the adoption except such as the Director sanctions;
(d) That no adoption of a child over the age of twelve years is
made without the child's consent.
As amended by Act of 1952, I EIiz.2 No.3, s. 18.
Compare the Adoption of Children Act, 1926, s.3 (Imperial), 12 Halsbury's
Statutes of England, 2nd cd., p. 962.
The paramount consideration is the welfare of the child, although in some cases
other questions may also have to be considered. See Re D. & E. (1924), 24
S.R.<i''':.S.W.) 50H; Re C. F. McGllillness (1933),34 S,R.(N,S.W.) 108. An adoption
order was made where therc would thereby be a slight benefit 10 the children, even
though they were not to live in the home of their adopting father (Re D. & E..
supra), The religion of the natural father, his wishes whether real or assumed, and
his common law rights, are irrelevant on an application for adoption where he is
either dead or has given an unconditional consent or has forfeited his right of veto
by aband,mment or the child and where the child is too young to have any religious
convictions (Re C. F. McGllil1lzess. supra),
This Act does not affect the principles to be applied in determining the validity
of a condition in a will attempting to interfere with the performance of parental
duties (Re Ellis (1929),29 S.R.(N.S.W.) 470),

7. Terms and conditions of adoption. When an adoption is made the

Director may impose such terms and conditions as he may think fit, and
in particular may require the adopter or adopters by bond or otherwise to
make for the adopted child such provision (if any) as in his opinion is just
and expedient.
Compare the Adoption of Children Act, 1926, s.4 (Imperial), 12 Halsbury's
Statutes of England, 2nd ed., p. 962,

8. (1) Effect of adoption. Upon an adoption order being made the child
shall, unless the adopting order otherwise provides, assume the surname
of the adopting parent or parents, and all rights, duties, obligations, and
liabilities of the parent or parents, guardian or guardians of the adopted
child in relation to the future custody, maintenance, and education of the
adopted child, including all rights to appoint a guardian or to consent to
or give notice of dissent to marriage shall be extinguished, and all such
rights, duties, obligations, and liabilities shall vest in and be exercisable
by and enforceable against the adopter or adopters as though the adopted
child was a child born to the adopter or adopters in lawful wedlock; and
in respect of the same matters and in respect of the liability of a child to
 ADOPTION ETC. ACTS, 1935 TO 1952 ss.6-8 63

maintain its parents the adopted child shall stand to the adopter or
adopters exclusively in the position of a child born to the adopter or
adopters in lawful wedlock:
Provided that in any case where two spouses are the adopters such
spouses shall in respect of the matters aforesaid and for the purposes of
the jurisdiction of any court to make orders as to the custody and main-
tenance of and right of access to children stand to each other and to the
adopted child in the same relation as they would have stood if they had
been the lawful father and mother of the said adopted child; and the
adopted child shall stand to them respectively in the same relation as a
child would have stood to a lawful father and mother respectively.
(2) As to succession to real and personal property. Except as herein-
after provided, on, from and after the making of the adoption order the
adopted child-
(a) Shall be entitled to succeed (whether under any intestacy or
disposition) to the real and personal property of the adopter
or adopters to the same extent as would have been the case if
the child had in fact been a child born to the adopter or
adopters in lawful wedlock:
Provided that an adopted child shall not have-
(i) Any right of succession to the real or personal property
of a relative of the adopter or adopters who dies intestate,
or
(ii) Any right to any real or personal property under any dis-
position made by a person or persons other than the
adopter or adopters in favour of the issue child or children
of the adopter or adopters unless it appears that it was
the intention of the person or persons making the dis-
position to include adopted children as objects of such
disposition;
(b) Shall not have any right of succession to any real or personal
property of its natural parent or parents which, if the adoption
had not been made, might have been claimed (whether under
any intestacy or disposition) by such child as a child born to
its natural parent or parents in lawful wedlock, unless in the
case of a disposition such child is expressly named therein:
Provided that the making of the adoption shall not deprive
the adopted child of-
(i) Any right of succession to the real or personal property
of a relative of its natural parent or parents who dies
intestate, or
(ii) Any right to any real or personal property under any dis-
position made by a person or persons other than its natural
parent or parents in favour of the issue child or children
of its natural parent or parents unless it appears that it
was the intention of the person or persons making the
disposition to exclude as objects of such disposition such
of the children of the natural parent or parents as have
been adopted by another person or other persons.
(3) Estate, right, or interest in certain property not affected. The
making of an adoption order shall not affect any estate, right, or interest
64 CHILDREN VoL 4

in any real or personal property to which any person has become entitled
either mediately or immediately in possession, expectancy, or contingency
by virtue of any disposition made before the making of the adoption order,
or by virtue of any devolution by law on the death of any person dying
before the making of the adoption order.
(4) Prohibition of marriage. It shall not be lawful for an adopter or
either of two joint adopters to marry his or her adopted child, and any
marriage between such persons shall be void.
(5) Where-
(a) An adopted child or the spouse or issue of an adopted child
takes any interest in real or personal property under a dis-
position by or the intestacy of the adopter; or
(b) An adopter takes any interest in real or personal property under
a disposition by or the intestacy of an adopted child or the
spouse or issue of an adopted child,
any duty under "The Succession and Probate Duties Acts, 1892 to 1932,"
or other duty which becomes leviable in respect thereof shall be payable
at the same rate as if the adopted child had been a child born to the
adopter in lawful wedlock.
(6) For the purposes of this section "disposition" means an assurance
of any interest in property by any instrument whether inter vivos or by
will, including codicil.
Act referred to:
Succession and Probate Duties Acts. 1892 to 1963, see title SUCCESSION
AND PROBATE DUTIES.
With subsections (1), (5) and (6)' cf. the Adoption of Children Act, 1926, s. 5
(Imperial), 12 Halsbury's Statutes of England, 2nd cd., p. 962.
With regard to succession to property of deceased persons, see the Acts printed
under the title SUCCESSION.
The follo\Ving cases deal with the effect of adoptions under statutes which in
some respects differed from this Act: Re Goldsmid, [1916] N Z.L.R. 1124 (rights
of parents by adoption and those claiming through them in property of adopted
child held to prevail over rights of natural parents); Re Carter (1905), 25 N.Z.L.R.
278 (the same); R. v. Stanley, [1903] N.Z.L.R. 378 (husband of adopter held to be
father for purposes of incest).
On the construction of this section see Re Pearson. Equity Trustees Executors
and Agency Co. Ltd. v. Michaelson-Yeates, [1946] V.L.R. 356 (domicil of adopted
child; will prior to adoption order). See also S. (falsely called R.) v. R., [1947]
Q.W.N.42.
An adoption order duly made and not set aside cannot be treated as a nullity
where one of the "spouses" who have been jointly authorised thereunder to adopt
a child is subsequently convicted of bigamy and application is made to a court of
summary jurisdiction on behalf of the child for a maintenance order (Re Skinner:
Skinner v. Carter, [1948] 1 Ch. 387; [1948] 1 All E.R. 42).
On the effect of the adoption of a child by spouses in relation to a suit of
nullity; see W. v. W., [1952] I All E.R. 858.
On the English practice where a person desires to adopt a child in respect of
whose custody the Court has made an order, see Crossley v. Crossley, [1953] P. 97;
[1953] I All E.R. 891.
An adoption order made under a foreign jurisdiction cannot be brought within
the provisions of this section. The question whether an adopted child can succeed
to property as the child of an adopter dying intestate is to be determined by the
law governing the succession, not by the law governing the adoption. Consequently,
where at the time of the making of an adoption order under a foreign jurisdiction
the intestate was not domiciled in Queensland, the adopted child will not acquire
the right to succeed to the estate which a child born in lawful wedlock would have.
Sec Re Wilson: Grace v. Lucas, [1954] 1 Ch. 733; [1954] 1 All E.R. 997. So too a
child adopted in England under the English Adoption of Children Act, 1926, 12
Halsbury's Statutes of England, 2nd ed., p. 962, is not entitled to a share of damages
obtained under ss. 12 and 13 of the Queensland Common Law Practice Acts, 1867
to 1940, see title PRACTICE, in respect of the death of its adopting father. So held
 ADOPTION ETC. ACTS, 1935 TO 1952 ss.8·10 65

in Bairstow v. Queensland Industries Pty. Ltd. [1955] St. R. Qd. 335; 49 Q.J.P.R. 119.
See also, on succession to property of a person adopted while domiciled abroad and
dying intestate domiciled in England, Re Wilby, [1956] P. 174; [1956] 1 All E.R. 27;
where the adopting mother's application for a grant of letters of administration of
the deceased's estate was dismissed.
In R. v. A., Ex parte W., [1955] V.L.R. 241; [1955] A.L.R. 866, a German
court pronounced a decree purporting to make an illegitimate child the lawful son
of a married couple after the child, his natural mother and the adopters had acquired
a Victorian domicil. The decree had been properly made according to the law of
Germany, which regarded nationality as the foundation of status, the adopting
father being a German national. Held that as the Victorian court regarded status
as dependent on domicil they should not recognize the decree, which purported to
affect the status of persons domiciled in Victoria at the lime it was made.
Language to the same effect as that of subsection (2) of this section was
interpreted by the High Court, in Dehnert v. Perpetual Executors and Trustees
Association of Australia Ltd. (1954), 91 C.LR. 177; [1954] A.L.R. 837, which
decided that a similar section provided a general rule with respect to the position of
an adopted child taking property on the death of the adopter wide enough to include
a statutory power in the court to vary the testamentary dispositions made by the
adopter so as to make provision for the adopted child's maintenance. See the
Testator's Family Maintenance Acts, 1914 to 1952, s. 3, title SUCCESSION.
On the question of the power of the Court to make an order for the custody
of an adopted child cf. Fromhold v. Fromhold, [1956] V.LR. 93; [1956] A.L.R. 465,
where the court followed Martin v. Martin (1930),46 T.L.R. 257; [1930] All E.R.
Rep. 603.
Semble a child adopted under this legislation could not take under a bequest
in an English will to "children" of the adopter. See Re Marshall: Barelays Bank
Ltd. v. Marshall, [1957] Ch. 263; [1957] 3 All E.R. 172, where the Court of Appeal,
approving a dictum of Roxburgh, J., in Re Fletcher, [1949] Ch. 473; [1949] 1 All
E.R. 732. held that adopted children are prima facie excluded by the rule that when
an English testator refers to "the children" of a beneficiary he is prima facie taken
to be referring only to the beneficiary'S lawful children. In that case the testator
was domiciled in England and the adopted child and his adoptive parent were
domiciled in British Columbia, where similar legislation was in force.
9. Application of laws as to fatal accidents, etc. For the purposes of the
enactments relating to fatal accidents, to workers' compensation, to insur-
ance, and to friendly societies the adopting parent or parents shall be
deemed to be the parent or parents of the child; and where before the
deed of adoption was executed any insurance has been effected by the
natural parent of the child its rights under the policy shall, notwithstand-
ing the deed of adoption, remain as though no such deed had been
executed.
Compare the Adoption of Children Act, 1926, s. 5 (5) (Imperial), 12 Halsbury's
Statutes of England, 2nd ed., p. 962.
Rights of action arising out of fatal accidents are conferred by the Common
Law Practice Acts, 1867 to 1940, ss. 12-15, title PRACTICE.
With respect to workers' compensation, see the Workers' Compensation Acts,
1916 to 1962, title LABOUR.
Fer the enactments relating to insurance, see title INSURANCE.
Friendly societies are regulated by the Friendly Societies Acts, 1913 to 1963,
title SOCIETIES.
10. Legitimation not to affect adoption. The adoption of an illegitimate
child shall not in any way be affected by the intermarriage of its parents:
Provided that nothing in this Act contained shall prejudice or affect
the right of any such child to be registered (and whether the parents of
such child intermarry before or after the making of the adoption order)
under "The Legitimation Act of 1899."
Act referred to:
Legitimation Acts, 1899 to 1938, see title MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE.
3
66 CHILDREN Vol. 4

11. Power to make interim adoption. (1) Upon any application for an
adoption order the Director may postpone the determination of the
application and may make an interim order (which shall not be an adop-
tion order for the purposes of this Act) giving the custody of the infant
to the applicant for a period of not exceeding six months by way of a
probationary period upon such terms as regards provision for the main-
tenance and education and supervision of the welfare of the infant and
otherwise as the Director may think fit.
(2) All such consents as are required to an adoption order shall be
necessary to an interim order but subject to a like power on the part of
the Director to dispense with any such consent.
Compare the Adoption of Children Act, 1926, s. 6 (Imperial), 12 Halsbury's
Statutes of England, 2nd ed., p. 962.

12. Authority to readopt. An order to adopt or an interim order to adopt

may be made in respect of an infant who has already been the subject
of an adoption order. and upon any application for such further adoption
order the adopter or adopters under the adoption order last previously
made shall. if living. be deemed to be the parent or parents of the infant
for all the purposes of this Act.
Compare the Adoption of Children Act, 1926, s. 7 (Imperial), 12 Halsbury's
Statutes of England, 2nd cd., p. 962.
Readoption orders may be cancelled under s. 16.
13. Director to make adoption orders. The authority having jurisdiction
to make adoption orders under this Act shall be the Director, State Chil-
dren Department. Brisbane:
Provided that the Deputy Director. State Children Department. Bris-
bane, shall be such authority in the absence of the said Director; and the
fact that such Deputy Director makes any adoption order under this Act
shall be conclusive proof of the absence of the said Director until the
contrary is proved.
As amended by Act of 1941,5 Geo. 6 No.7, s. 2 (I), subsection (2) of which
provides the amendment shall be retrospective to 1 February 1936.
14. (1) Restriction on payments. It shall not be lawful for any adopter
or for any parent or guardian except with the sanction of the Director to
receive any payment or other reward in consideration of the adoption of
any infant under this Act or for any person to make or give or agree to
make or give to any adopter or to any parent or guardian any such pay-
ment or reward.
(2) Penalty. Any person who acts in contravention of or fails to
comply with any of the provisions of this section shall be guilty of an
offence and liable for every such offence to a penalty of not more than
fifty pounds.
Compare the Adoption of Children Act, 1926, s. 9 (Imperial), 12 Halsbury's
Statutes of England, 2nd cd., p. 962.
15. Provisions as to existing adoptions. Where at the date of the com-
mencement of this Act any infant is in the custody of and being brought
up. maintained. and educated by any person or two spouses jointly as his.
her. or their own child under any adoption order made under "The Infant
Life Protection Acts. 1905 to 1927." or any de facto adoption the Director
may. upon the application of such person or spouses and notwithstanding
that the applicant is a male and the infant a female. make an adoption
order authorising him. her. or them to adopt the infant without requiring
 ADOPTION ETC. ACTS, 1935 TO 1952 ss.11-17 67

the consent of any parent or guardian of the infant to be obtained upon

being satisfied that in all the circumstances of the case it is just and equit-
able and for the welfare of the infant that no such consent should be
required and that an adoption order should be made.
Act referred to:
Infant Life Protection Acts, 1905 to 1935, see p. 90, post.
Compare the Adoption of Children Act, 1926, s. 10 (Imperial), 12 Halsbury's
Statutes of England, 2nd ed., p. 962.
16. Power to cancel on adoption or readoption. (1) The Governor in
Council may in his discretion by Order in Council cancel any adoption
order or readoption order subject to such terms and conditions as he thinks
fit, but the adoption order or readoption order shall not be cancelled
unless he is satisfied that the cancellation if made will be for the welfare
of the infant due consideration being for this purpose given to the wishes
of the infant, having regard to the age and understanding of the infant.
(2) Where an adoption order or readoption order is cancelled then,
subject to conditions (if any) specified, the child and its natural parents
and the adopter or readopter shall be deemed for all purposes to be
restored to the same position inter se as existed immediately before the
original adoption order was made:
Provided that such restoration shall not affect anything lawfully done
or any right or interest which became vested in the child while the adop-
tion or readoption order was in force:
Power of Director to resume control of former State child. Provided
further, that the Director may, if in all the circumstances of the case he
thinks proper, resume control of the child if the child was at the time an
adoption order was made a ward of the State Children Department within
the meaning of "The State Children Acts, 1911 to 1928," and that the
child at the time of cancellation of the adoption order or readoption order
is under the age of eighteen years.
Every such order of cancellation shall be notified to the Registrar-
General, who shall note the fact in his registers.
Act referred [0:
State Children Acts, 1911 to 1955, see p. 99, post.
Quaere Whether the word "on" in the sectional note before subsection (1) was
intended to be "an."
It appears that an adoption order may be cancelled even after the person
adopted has attained the age of twenty-one years. See Wingfield v. Bartholomew.
[1933] N.Z.L.R. 693.
17. Application in case of interim orders unless exemption made under
s. 5 (c) of the Infant Life Protection Acts. The provisions of "The
Infant Lifc Protection Acts, 1905 to 1927"-
(a) Shall not apply in the case of an infant within the meaning
of such Acts with respect to whom an adoption order under
this Act has been made; but
(b) Shall (unless an exemption order has been specially made
by the Minister pursuant to paragraph (c) of section five of
such Acts) apply as if this Act had not been passed in the
case of any infant within the meaning of such Acts with
respect to whom an interim order under this Act has been
made.
Act referred to:
Infant Life Protection Acts, 1905 to 1935, see p. 90, post.
68 CHILDREN Vol. 4

18. Adoption order to be in prescribed form and to contain prescribed

particulars. The Director shall make every adoption order in triplicate
and in the form prescribed.
Schedule. The application for an adoption order shall include all
such particulars as may be necessary in order to enable the Director
to complete columns two to six, both inclusive, of the Schedule to this
Act, which Schedule shall be included in and form part of every adoption
order, and shall be the schedule to such adoption order hereinafter re-
ferred to in this Act:
Provided that where the Director is satisfied that any such particulars
cannot be ascertained he may nevertheless made the adoption order, but
shall indicate in the appropriate place in such schedule the fact that such
particulars cannot be ascertained.
Forthwith on the making of an adoption order the Director shall
deliver all three copies thereof to the Registrar-General.
19. Adopted Children Register. The Registrar-General shall make and
keep in the general registry a register to be called the "Adopted Children
Register" and shall also make and keep therein an index thereto.
The Adopted Children Register shall consist of one copy of every
adoption order to be kept therein as hereinafter provided, and may consist
of such number of bound volumes of such adoption orders as the Registrar-
General thinks fit.
Forthwith on the receipt by him of an adoption order the Registrar-
General shall register same by completing column eight of the schedule
thereto under his seal and signature in the manner therein set out.
The Registrar-General shall number consecutively, beginning with the
number one, all adoption orders registered by him and shall insert in
column one of the schedule to each such order its proper number.
Upon registration the Registrar-General shall place and keep in the
Adopted Children Register one copy of the adoption order and shall forth-
with deliver the remaining copies to the Director, who shall keep one such
copy and shall give the other to the adopter or adopters.
20. When register of births to be noted. In every case where the adoption
order sufficiently identifies the infant in respect of whom it was made with
an infant whose birth has been entered in a register of births, the Registrar-
General shall make a marginal note to such entry and to any index thereto
sufficient to indicate to him or to any authorised officer of his Department
the fact that the child mentioned in such entry has been adopted. and shall
also, where the birth of such infant has been entered in a register of births
kept in a district registry, forthwith instruct the district registrar to make a
similar marginal note to such entry and to any index to such register.
Where a marginal note as aforesaid has been made to an entry in any
register of births or in any index relating to such entry, such entry or the
index relating thereto shall not be open to public inspection or search nor,
except upon the order of a court of competent jurisdiction. shall the
Registrar-General or a district registrar furnish any person with a copy of
or extract from any such entry.
In Re M., [1946] Q.W.N. 16, an order was made requiring the Registrar-General
to furnish M., who desired to institute a suit for divorce, with a certified copy of
an entry relating to the birth of an adopted child. of whom his wife had been
registered as the mother while he was absent from Australia on military service. in
corroboration of her admission of adultery.
 ADOPTION ETC. ACTS, 1935 TO 1952 ss.18·22 69

21. Evidence and search. The Adopted Children Register and any adop-
tion order duly registered therein shall be and be deemed to be respec·
tively a book and document of such a public nature as to be admissible
in evidence on its mere production from the proper custody, and the
Registrar·General shall be the person having the proper custody thereof.
Every person shall, subject as is hereinafter provided, be entitled to
have a search made in the index to the Adopted Children Register and
to have a copy of or extract from the schedule to the relative adoption
order signed and certified as a true copy or extract by the Registrar-
General:
Provided that the Registrar·General shall not unless upon the order
of a court of competent jurisdiction furnish any person with a copy of or
extract from any part of an adoption order other than the schedule
thereto:
Provided further, that the provisions of section twenty of "The Regis-
tration of Births Deaths and Marriages Act of 1855" relating to times of
search and the payment of search fees shall, mutatis mutandis, apply and
extend to every such search and / or copy and / or extract as aforesaid.
Act referred to:
See now Registration of Births. Deaths and Marriages Act of 1962, title
STATISTICS.

21A. Reciprocal arrangements with respect to adoption orders made in

any other State or Territory of the Commonwealth. (1) Notwithstanding
anything contained in this Act, the Minister may make arrangements with
the Minister administering any Territory of the Commonwealth or ad-
ministering any law of any other State relating to the adoption of children
for the transmission to, or by him, as the case requires, of a duly certified
copy of any adoption order concerning a child born in the State of
Queensland and adopted under the law of such Territory of the Common-
wealth or other State or born in such Territory of the Commonwealth
or other State and adopted under this Act.
(2) Where a duly certified copy of an adoption order made in any
Territory of the Commonwealth or other State in respect of a child born
in this State is received in pursuance of an arrangement made under sub·
section one of this section it shall be forwarded to the Registrar·General,
who shall deal with the copy as if it were a copy of an adoption order
made in this State.
(3) Any document purporting to be certified as a copy of an adoption
order made in any Territory of the Commonwealth or in any other State
shall, until the contrary is proved, be deemed to be a duly certified copy
of such adoption order, and the person appearing to have certified such
copy shall, until the contrary is proved, be deemed to have been the proper
person to certify the document.
(4) In this section "Territory of the Commonwealth" means every
Territory under the authority of the Commonwealth of Australia and
every Territory governed by the Commonwealth of Australia under a
mandate.
Inserted by Act of 1941, 5 Geo.6 No.7, s.3.

22. Recovery of penalties. All penalties and fees imposed by or pursuant

to this Act may be recovered in a summary way by complaint under
"The Justices Acts. 1886 to 1932."
70 CHILDREN Vol. 4

Any person offending against any provision of this Act shall where
no specific penalty is imposed be liable to a penalty of not more than
twenty pounds.
Act referred to:
Justices Acts. 1886 to 1964. see title JUSTICES.

23. Regulations. (1) The Governor in Council may from time to time
make regulations providing for all or any purposes, whether general or to
meet particular cases, that may be convenient for the administration of
this Act. or that may be necessary or expedient to carry out the objects
and purposes of such Act.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing provisions regulations
may be made for all or any of the following purposes, that is to say:-
(i) All matters required or permitted by this Act to be prescribed.
(ii) The mode in which application for the making of an adoption
order under this Act shall be made and effected.
(iii) The form of adoption order.
(iv) The fee to be paid upon application for an adoption order,
provided that such fee shall not exceed one pound and one
shilling.
(v) Generally for giving effect to all incidental matters arising out
of the Act.
(vi) Generally to give effect to the objects and purposes of this Act.
(2) The regulations may fix a penalty, not exceeding in any case
twenty pounds, for any breach thereof.
(3) Any such regulations may be made on the passing of this Act.
Regulations. see Table of Contents to this title, p. 53, ante.
Validity of Regulations, see Preliminary Note to title ACTS OF PARLIAMENT.

24. Publication of regulations in the Gazette. All regulations made or

purporting to be made under this Act shall upon being published in the
Gazette have the same effect as if they were enacted in this Act and shall
be judicially noticed, and shall not be questioned in any proceedings
whatsoever.
The publication in the Gazette of any such regulation shall be con-
clusive evidence of the matters contained therein, and of the power and
authority to make such regulation, as the case may be.
All such regulations shall be laid before Parliament forthwith, if then
sitting; and, if not then sitting, within fourteen days after the commence-
ment of the next ensuing session.
To be laid before Parliament. If the Legislative Assembly, within
the next fourteen sitting days after any regulations have been so laid
before such House, resolves that such regulations or any of them ought to
be annulled, the same shall after the date of such resolution be of no
effect, without prejudice to the validity of anything done in the meantime
under such regulations or to the making of any new regulations.
For the purpose of this section the term "sitting days" shall mean
days on which the House actually sits for the despatch of business.
 SCHEDULE [Sections 18 and 19)
THE ADOPTED CHILDREN REGISTER
RECORD OF CHILD ADOPTED IN QUEENSLAND m,DER "THE ADOPTION OF CHILDREN ACT OF 1935"

CHILD PARENTS BY ADOPTION Director,

--I State Children Registrar-

I_ _ ~_~~----~ General
Department
FATHER i MOTHER
No.
11. Wh," hom I 1. N"n, I I. Name and Sur- 11. Name and Maiden I. Signature ! 1. Signature
i 2. Where born 2. Surname Sex name ! Surname 2. Date 2. Date
2.
i Rank or Profession 12.Age 3. Place I 3. Where registered
j ; 3. Age 3. BIrthplace I 4. No.of original entry
I 4. Birthplace I

-0)--1--(-2-)- - (3) (4) (5)

1----(-6-)-
(7) I (8)
I certify that this'
This Adoption Order
II. '. I. I. I.
Adoption Order is to is duly registered by
ledge and belief cor- !
'I

the best of my know- me as by law required

i rect for registration

1. ............ 1.
I2 2. 2. 1
2. I

i 2. 2.
I

3. I 3. 3. Brisbane 3. Brisbane
I

4.
4.
Seul
of
Address of Adopter or Adopters Registrar·
a.neral.

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