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ContributeIn the five decades following the Second World War tens of thousands of 'new arrivals' were accommodated in migrant hostels across South Australia. The hostel at Elder Park was one of at least twelve government run hostels operating as temporary accommodation for migrants. There were many more sites run by government departments, industry and businesses as worker accommodation. The Elder Park migrant hostel was the first to open in South Australia, and the most centrally located.
In 1947 the buildings formerly known as the SPF Hostel (Schools Patriotic Fund Hostel) were converted into a migrant hostel. It was officially renamed the Immigration and Reception Depot, Elder Park in August 1948. Rooms varied in size from single cubicles to fourteen-bed dormitories. Residents could hear their neighbours through flimsy partitions. There were communal bathrooms, a dining room where residents collected their meals and ate six to a table, and a communal laundry with two ironing rooms. Some former residents have happy memories of spending time in the evenings with other new arrivals in the lounge and writing room. The rent at Elder Park varied, and was adjusted to take into account changes in cost of living.
Elder Park was set up for British migrants, though it is possible that Displaced Persons were accommodated there at some point. After 1951 it was also used by migrant railway employees and their families, along with dependents of army personnel recruited in the UK. The hostel was capable of housing between 160 and 180 people.
Elder Park hostel was overwhelmingly for short-term stay in transit to other hostels or pre-arranged independent accommodation. There are reports of people staying for several weeks, but the vast majority of people stayed only a few nights, sometimes only one. Many of the British migrants using Elder Park had opted into house purchasing schemes prior to arrival.
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South Australian Government Photographic Collection, GN14994
South Australian Government Photographic Collection, GN14996
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If you're looking for more information on your family's stay Peta there's a handy research guide to finding your family in the migrant hostels here - https://arts.adelaide.edu.au/humanities/hostel-stories/find-your-family?...
My family of 7 arrived in November 1959. I was only 2yrs old so have no memory of that time. Mum always said we stayed at the hostel behind the Railway station for a week, until we moved to our house in Elizabeth North.
Food seems to feature strongly in many peoples memories Edgar!
we too came out in 1966 on the fairstar.I have vague memories .i remember dad
bringing us huge potatoes fritters,I remember the hostels were noisy inside they had glass partitions at the top of the walls
My family and I arrived at the hostel in March 1969. My dad had a job at Tip Top and we would later rent a house in Ingle Farm and Modbury.
As a 6 year old, I can't remember much about the hostel, just that we were all in the same room and it was very dark (no windows?).
I always loved telling people I had stayed where the festival theatre is now (or close to)
What wonderful memories Ray,
Thank you for sharing, I can almost picture it. You're right about the tram tracks, history come full circle!
I arrived as a migrant from London in October 1959. I was 8 years old and came with my parents and sister on the SS Orontes. At that age I don't recall a great deal, but we stayed at the Elder Park Hostel for about 4 weeks before moving onto temporary accommodation in Sth Brighton. Elder Park was our playground and, after London, was an amazing adventure. I remember the Kiosk at the park and when I had some spare pennies would buy some Cottees Lime drink. I don't remember much of the Hostel, but I do recall some areas were a poor state of repair - a friend of mine getting an electric shock from a faulty light switch. We watched the high divers at the City Baths adjacent to Parliament House and Popeye cruising the Torrens. I also recall the river water being relatively clear as I watched the fish swim near the river bed. Dad worked at John Martins so we often ventured along Rundle Street. I also remember the tram tracks along North Terrace and King William Street. I read recently that those tram tacks were removed as part of the agreement to build the Holden factory at Elizabeth. Now we have trams tracks back and no Holden factory!
No book as yet Tim, but if you click on the link section you can visit the University of Adelaide Hostel Stories project page, where they have a list of publications by researchers who have been part of the project.
I remember arriving in 1966, ten pound poms on the TV Fairstar, mum, dad and two kids. I remember a few things as a seven year old then. It seemed like we stayed there a while but it was probably only 2 maybe 3 weeks before dad rented a house at Christies Beach for a short while before he bought our first new house at Pasadena.
I can remember playing around the Torrens with others, some even fished, there was lots of green grass to run around on. Having meals in the common area and hearing mum talk to others downstairs in that central cloister, laundry area when I was in bed. There was the city baths of course and then mum and dad would take us shopping to the central market and coles.
Is there a book available or something similar about the hostel?
Thanks for sharing your story Brian.
We came to the hostel of February 1963. My parents and 4 children. The Adelaide Railway Station was just behind the hostel; and I remember going up there and buying fruit: especially water melon and grapes. Which were rare in England where we just came from. Very nice eating. We were only there for a short time; as my parents had purchased a house.
Great memories Alexandra, thanks for sharing.
My family arrived at the Elder Park Hostel in March 1955. We had migrated from England in the "Orontes". My twin sister and I were nearly five. I do have vague memories of eating in the dining room, and also falling in the Torrens River ! There were no fences or barriers next to the water. I recall a man coming to pick us up in a big Customline car, to take us to look at Housing Trust houses. Dad and Mum decided on a Mt Gambier stone three bedroom house in Sussex Street at Warradale. It was then a semi-rural area with orchards and vineyards all around, plus extensive horse stables nearby. Our house cost 3000 pounds. A couple of years ago, it was on the market for $540000 ! Our former neighbour is still there after 64 years !
It must have been an experience Jenny. Another former resident told me she remembers the brown water in the laundry, which was a shock coming from England.
I remember the paper thin walls, we arrived in October and it was very hot. The laundry wash tubs are one of my other memories. We moved to Elizabeth where my family bought a house.
Great memories Denise,
Thanks for sharing them here. Always interesting to hear from people who were actually there and can remember the sights, smells and emotions of a place.
I was 15 yrs old when I arrived at Elder Park Hostel with my family. I remember well the sleeping and dining areas. The food was not that good but I do recall one lady coming around with a pot of soup to calling out "Sooooop". We were only there for about a week I think as dad got a job at Chrysler's and bought a house at Christies Beach (through the Housing Trust who sponsored us). There was not much privacy in the bedrooms (paper thin walls). There was also a kiosk nearby in the park - I remember buying something and trying to work out the decimal currency which had just been introduced.