Migrant hostels of South Australia

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Immigration contributed significantly to the population of South Australia after World War 2. This was the era of 'populate or perish' and the Federal Government sought to increase the population of Australia by campaigns to encourage, through 'assisted passage' schemes, migrants from the United Kingdom. However insufficient Britons took up the opportunity and so Australia opened its doors to more migrants from non-British sources.

A war-devastated Europe provided a huge source of migrants. However Australians, accustomed to pro-British and 'White Australia' policies were initially wary of non-British looking migrants. When these barriers had been overcome to some degree, the 'New Australians' arrived in large numbers. Many migrants came to South Australia.

All the migrants, no matter where they came from, needed to be temporarily accommodated until they obtained employment and accommodation. Hence migrant hostels were created. These sometimes consisted of clusters of World War 2 Nissen huts. Others may have been vacant government buildings once used for other purposes (eg former army barracks, 'Cheer Up' entertainment huts from the World Wars).

Sometimes these hostels were located in cheaper industrial suburbs. The Federal Government considered that it was not bound by State health inspection and pricing regulations. Living conditions in the hostels were basic and the cause of dissatisfaction at times. For example a rent strike and protest occurred at the Finsbury Hostel in Adelaide in 1952. This strike spread to hotels in other states. ^[1]

Location of the hostels: Elder Park, Finsbury/Pennington, Gepps Cross, Glenelg, Rosewater, Salisbury, Smithfield, Whyalla, Woodside.

Elder Park Hostel was located on the site of the present Festival Theatre, near the River Torrens. It consisted of fibro buildings. Some of the English migrants who migrated under the South Australian Housing Trust's House Purchase Scheme were accommodated for a few weeks before selecting their house for purchase at Elizabeth, the SAHT-built 'satellite town'.

Gepps Cross Hostel consisted of Nissen huts and was located on the corner of Main North Road and Grand Junction Road, diagonally opposite from the Gepps Cross Hotel.

Woodside Hostel hostel was an army camp in the Adelaide Hills and accommodation was in wooden huts.

Glenelg Hostel consisted of Nissen huts

Pennington Hostel was established by the Commonwealth Migrant Workers Accommodation Division in 1950 and was located on Grand Junction Road, between Addison Road and Glenroy Street. It consisted of converted army Nissen huts and sheds. Migrants could stay there for up to five years. The hostel closed in November 1985.^[2]

Gepps Cross Hostel was located on the corner of Main North Road and Grand Junction Road, diagonally opposite the Gepps Cross Hotel. It consisted of Nissen huts, each divided to accommodate 2 families.

Rosewater Hostel was near Port Adelaide and consisted of big 1 acre woolsheds divided up into rows of cubicles inside, with wire mesh ceilings. ^[3]

Smithfield Hostel </From the 1950s until the 1970s Smithfield Migrant Hostel was home to many migrants. Situated on Section 3163, in the Hundred of Munno Para, the hostel accommodated up to 300 people at one time. Accommodation was provided free of charge until the breadwinner of the family found work and then there would be a charge. After twelve months a special application was required if the family wished to stay on. The hostel closed when the Commonwealth Migration Programme slowed and new migrants could be given accommodation at Pennington.> ^[4]

==References==