Minister for Urban Housing Ngaree Ah Kit and members of the St Mary’s Stolen Generation Group. Photos: NT Government.
Alice Springs’ historic St Mary’s Hostel and Chapel and property has been acquired for $3.25 million by the Northern Territory Government with a view to turning the site into an affordable housing development.
On the Stuart Highway alongside the Todd River, the 8.2-hectare property operated as a boarding school for mainly Aboriginal children from 1947 to 1972. Most of the students had been taken from their families as wards of the state and later became known as members of the Stolen Generation.
Now known as a truth-telling site, the land has been purchased with a view to developing social and affordable housing under the Australian Government Housing Reform agenda, including the Housing Australia Future Fund and the National Infrastructure Facility.
While there are no immediate plans for redevelopment, the Territory Government says it plans to honour the legacy of the area and will continue to work with members of the St Mary’s Stolen Generation Group, which had advocated for its protection.
The acquisition includes a formalised agreement between the Department of Territory Families, Housing and Communities and the Anglican Diocese detailing the preservation of the chapel.
In a statement, the Territory Government said the former residents wanted the chapel preserved because of its historical significance and the memories therein, including a heritage-listed 1958 mural by Hungarian artist Robert Czako, which was restored in 2021 and is a backdrop to the altar.
To this end, it says 10 per cent of the sale amount has been allocated to preservation efforts.
Minister for Urban Housing Ngaree Ah Kit said St Mary’s Hostel was steeped in Northern Territory history, and survivors of the Stolen Generation held many memories and mixed feelings about their time there.
St Mary’s Chapel and its mural will be retained and preserved.
“While the land will be developed for future housing, the historical and heritage value of the site will be preserved,” she said.
“The purchase of St Mary’s Hostel has been a collaboration between our government, the Anglican Church and the St Mary’s Stolen Generation Group, which ensures it becomes a place that not only pays respect to the past, but serves as a valuable and practical community asset.
Anglican Bishop Dr Greg Anderson added: “We’re committed to the preservation of the chapel and memorialising the legacy of the St Mary’s site in collaboration with the former residents.”
Stolen Generation Group chairperson Anne Ronberg said: “We are looking forward to working with the Northern Territory Government and the Anglican Church to honour our families and past and present Stolen Generation people by memorialising the legacy of the site and stories of St Mary’s.”
