The History of the
Big Brother Movement

In 1925, Australia sought strong, willing young men eager for adventure and a new life. The Big Brother Movement (BBM) was founded to meet this need, and over 200 "Little Brothers" sailed from England on the Jervis Bay, arriving in Australia on 14 December 1925.

Early Years (1925-1947)

Until 1947, these young men were trained for farm work at government-run training farms like Scheyville, NSW. The migration scheme was interrupted first in 1931 due to the Great Depression and again in 1939 with the outbreak of World War II, despite five ships making the journey that year.

Post-War Resumption and Growth (1947-1982)

Migration resumed in 1947, with BBM sponsoring around twelve thousand lads to settle in Australia until 1982. In April 1947, the Movement purchased a 600-acre property known as “Karmsley Hills” at Bossley Park near Liverpool, NSW, for £15,000. This farm was dedicated as a memorial to the Little Brothers who lost their lives in the war. Between 1947 and 1971, nearly 4,000 British lads passed through this establishment.

Shifts and Evolution

By the late 1950s, more lads were arriving for city work rather than farming. The average age of the arrivals up to the 1960s was 16, but later arrivals tended to be up to 20 years old. In 1983, the sponsorship scheme ended due to changing migration rules, leading to the sale of the farm and the reinvestment of the funds.

These funds enabled the organisation to evolve into BBM Youth Support, continuing to support young talent through various initiatives.

Continuing Legacy

Today, hundreds of Little Brothers remain in contact with BBM. The organisation maintains an archive and historical records of the Little Brothers who arrived in Australia from 1925 to 1982. Often, this archive serves as the only official record of their journey to a new land of opportunity.

If you are a Little Brother, a relative of a Little Brother, or simply interested in the Big Brother Movement, we’d love to hear from you. Please call or email us at bigbrothermovement@bbm.asn.au.