ArchivesACT has reflected on the history of the old Riverside Hostel in Barton in its first Find of the Month for 2022.
Archives said the Hostel was built in 1947 from barrack-like huts and erected to house immigrant building workers from the United Kingdom (UK).
“When they were no longer required as accommodation for the workers, the huts were leased out to a diverse group of community groups to support their various activities and meetings,” Archives said.
“The files identified on the Hostel and its buildings record the origins of the huts and tell how the Canberra community made use of them as its priorities changed over time.”
It said a site between Molonglo River (now Lake Burley Griffin) and Brisbane Avenue was put aside in September 1944 to accommodate about 600 skilled immigrant tradesmen from the UK who would help build the housing required for the growing city.
Archives said the Hostel was closed for the purpose of housing workmen in 1951, but many of the huts remained in place and were soon refurbished.
“By August 1952 all Commonwealth Departments had been given the opportunity to make use of the huts at Riverside as storage space, some of which took up the offer,” it said.
“They were by then also being offered under lease to organisations and clubs, offers that were eagerly accepted by groups looking for premises to operate from.
“The site evolved to become a busy community hub.”
Archives said minutes from the ACT Advisory Council revealed that a planning program was underway in 1962 to assess the existing land use of the Riverside site and it was expected that all of the buildings would be removed.
It said that, while the huts were still on site in 1966, the files did not offer any details about when each hut was removed or where they were relocated, “however we do know that a business operating under the name of Riverside Canteen was still trading in 1969 from hut 16”.
Archives said one hut was still being used for storage in August 1978 by the Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs.
