A birth registration was found for Michael Arnott: Mother's Maiden Surname: Dunn; Date of Registration: Oct Nov Dec 1925; Registration district: Darlington; Registration county: Durham; Volume Number: 10a; Page Number: 37. Parents: Richard Hamilton Arnott and Elizabeth Maud Dunn, married 1908, Darlington, Durham, England.

In 1934, Michael Arnott, 8 (and brother Anthony Arnott, 10) arrived at Fremantle, Australia, in a group of 22 children from the Child Emigration Society, Strand, London, England, accompanied by Miss Grace Bell, Deaconess. He was placed in Newton Cottage at Fairbridge Farm School, Pinjarra, Australia.