Newspaper report on an appeal for the church hostel at Alice Springs.
1940 - Newspaper report - Church Hostel at Alice Springs
Concerned at poor conditions and the lack of educational opportunities for children living
at “The Bungalow,” Father Smith established St John’s Hotel, Alice Springs, as a residence for bush children while
furthering their education.
1941 - St John's Hostel in Bath St - Alice Springs
Joe Croft became the first Aboriginal person to enter and attend a
university in
Australia. He became a resident of St John’s College within the University of Queensland where he studied
engineering. He joined the army and served during WW2, which prevented the completion of his course. In 2015 the
university created the Joseph (Joe) Croft Indigenous Award
in his honour.
1942 - St John's College -University of Queensland Shield
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19 February - Bombing of Darwin by the Japanese. After this attack Father Smith served as
an Army Chaplain based at Alice Springs. He ministered to troops in the AIF who were part of the force being sent
to defend Darwin. His ministry extended as far north Larrimah.
1943 - Father Smith in Army Chaplain Uniform
1943 - Father Smith in Army Chaplain Uniform
1943 - Father Smith in Army Chaplain Uniform
11 March - Desmond Price was born at Queen Victoria Hospital in Adelaide. He was among the
hundreds evacuated from the Northern Territory over fear of the Japanese invasion of WW2. When he left school he
worked for the South Australian Railways and became a member of the Australian Federation of Locomotive Enginemen.
He is on the far left in this photograph with St Francis House in the background.
Desmond Price
WW2 in Central Australia.
Transport camp on the east side of Alice Springs.
1943 - Transport camp on the east side of Alice Springs
Some of the first group of boys who went to St Francis House. Bill Espie, John Palmer
(Back), Noel Hampton, Charles Perkins, Malcolm Cooper (Front), Mrs Isabel Smith, Father Smith.
1944 - Group of boys ready to leave for St Francis House
Group of children who resided at St John’s Hostel, Alice Springs. Father Smith in center.
1944 - Group of children who resided at St John’s Hostel, Alice Springs
Conclusion of WW2. This record of recollections of the war years in Central Australia is
from Father Smith’s private papers.
1945 - Father Smith recollections on the war years
Newspaper clipping reporting Father Smith’s relocation to Pembroke Street, Kensington Park
in Adelaide and his intention to establish a home for children with access to education.
1945 - Newspaper Clipping - Home for half-caste and quadroon boys and girls
2 April
Easter Monday. St Francis House boys ready for a picnic.
(L-R) Malcolm Cooper, Charles Perkins, David Woodford, Judy Almond, Bill Espie, John Palmer, Peter Tilmouth.
Back Row (L-R) Mrs M. Almond, Mrs. I Almond, B. Brooker, Mrs Smith, Father Smith.
1945 - Easter Monday - St Francis House boys ready for picnic
28 March - Letter to the editor of The Advertiser from Father Smith at Pembroke
Street, Kensington Park.
1946 - Letter to Editor - The Advertiser - Help for Half-Castes
Some of the boys attended Marryatville Primary School while living at Pembroke Street.
This Grade 5 class photograph includes David Woodford (2nd from L) in the back row and Peter Tilmouth (5th from L)
in the front row.
1946 - Marryatville Primary School - Grade 5
Marryatville Primary School Grade 6 class photograph includes Malcolm Cooper and Charlie
Perkins sitting in the front row. Bill Espie is standing in the third row on the far left.
1946 - Marryatville Primary School - Grade 6
Father Smith inspects the grounds at Glanville Hall in preparation to purchase the site on
behalf of the Anglican Church to establish St Francis House.
1946 - Father Smith Inspects the grounds at Glanville Hall
Constructed in 1856 in Semaphore South in Adelaide, South Australia, Glanville Hall is a
grand Victorian Tudor style mansion, built for Captain John Hart, a retired mariner, cattle merchant, property
owner, politician and South Australia’s first Premier.
Named after Captain Hart’s mother Mary Glanville, the manor was constructed from stone transported almost 200km
from Port Vincent on Yorke Peninsula. The property originally consisted of 14 main rooms, a coach house, a gate
keeper's lodge and extensive grounds and stables. The servants' quarters were tucked into a second story within
the roof space, and a billiard room and tower were added during extensions in 1865.
1946- Glanville Hall
The statue of St Francis, which stood on the altar in the chapel.
1946 - Plaster Statue of St Francis from the chapel
21 April
Public meeting to discuss work being done for Aboriginal children by the
Church of England convened at the Adelaide Town Hall by Father Smith.
The Advertiser reported that at the time there were 12 boys at Semaphore and it was planned to increase this
number to 20. One boy hoped to go into the Teachers’ Training College, another was attending LeFevre Peninsula
Technical School and the others were at primary school.
1947 - 21 April - Flyer for ABM meeting at Adelaide Town Hall
27 September - Front page report in Truth newspaper entitled “Abos. Find Fairy
God-father.”
1947 - 27 September - Truth - Abos find fairy god-father
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Book published – The Strenuous Saint by P McD Smith
Biography of one of the pioneer clergymen of the Diocese of Carpentaria, the Rev. William Magney Wilkinson, who
travelled from far North Queensland to the Centre and back in 1913-14, a journey of some 7500 miles, lasting 846
days.
Book cover designed by Rev TT Read later Bishop of Adelaide.
Proceeds from the sale of the book went towards supporting St John’s Hostel.
1946 - The Strenuous Saint by P McD Smith
26 July - Letter from Pembroke St re proceeds of book
1946 - 26 July - Letter from Pembroke St re proceeds of book
Book Review in Adelaide Church Guardian
Book Review in Adelaide Church Guardian
Father Smith assists Malcolm Cooper and Charles Perkins with their homework at St Francis
House.
1947 - Father Smith assists Malcolm Cooper and Charles Perkins with their homework at St Francis House
Group of boys in the grounds of St Francis House with Father Smith
1947 - St Francis House boys group with Father Smith
St Francis House Boys.
Back: Charlie Kunoth, Bill Espie, Peter Tilmouth, John Palmer.
Middle: Laurie Bray, Charlie Perkins, Ernie Perkins, Malcolm Cooper, David Woodford
Front: Brian Butler, Gordon Briscoe
1947 - St Francis House Boys
Father Smith standing outside St Francis House.
1948 – Father Smith standing outside St Francis House
1 November - Father Smith’s annual report on progress at St Francis House for 1947-48.
1948 - 1 November - 1947-48 St Francis House Report by Father Smith
Aboriginal children transferred from Mulgoa Anglican Home in the Blue Mountains, NSW to St
Francis House.
Photo includes Cyril Hampton, John Moriarty (holding puppy), Harry Russell, Wally McArthur, Ken Hampton, Jim
Foster, Tim Campbell and Wilfred Huddleston.
1948 - Aboriginal Children at Mulgoa
Ethelton Primary School Football Team.
Top Row: Peter Tilmouth 3rd from R
Middle Row: Laurie Bray 2nd from L
Bottom Row: David Woodford 4th from L, Vincent Copley 6th from L
1948 - Ethelton Primary School Football Team
Richie Bray and John Moriarty. Note the tower end of St Francis House in the background.
1948 - Richie Bray and John Moriarty at St Francis House
Newspaper report in The News about the sporting domination of St Francis House boys
including Harry, Russell, Cyril Hampton, Ken Hampton and Wally McArthur who won the senior cup with seven firsts.
It is noted that Wally came from NSW is hailed as an Olympic possibility.
1949 - The News - Part-aborigines prominent in school sports
