Adelaide Destitute Asylum

The Destitute Asylum was a government-funded institution in Adelaide in the colony of South Australia, designed to support those of its citizens who had no means of financial support, especially new arrivals and mothers with children. It was first established around 1839 as a Native School (also knowns as the Native School Establishment, and the location as the Native Location), with boarding facilities, for teaching local Aboriginal children, and functioned for some years in this capacity. As the school was not fully supported and therefore under-utilised, it started being used for young women arriving in the colony on their own, sometimes as orphans, and around 1850 became the Destitute Asylum. By 1855 it was holding both males and females, many of whom had been transferred for convalescence from the Adelaide Hospital.

The Destitute Asylum was housed in several buildings, some of which were altered over time. Part of the old asylum now houses the Migration Museum in Kintore Avenue. The asylum was eventually closed in 1912.

In 1839 The South Australian Register called for establishment of a benevolent society which would provide the necessities of life for widows and orphans, abandoned children, and industrious workers who by sickness or injury could not provide for themselves and their families; all assuming they had no family to call on. No consideration was given to destitution as the result of general unemployment.

Around 1839 a Native School, later designated "Native School Establishment" with boarding facilities was established in the Park Lands near North Terrace in a section designated the Native Location (later the "Old Location"). It was opened in December 1940, supported by Governor George Gawler. By 1841 it had had sufficient success to establish that Aboriginal children were every bit as bright and teachable as white students; however the number attending remained small, largely due to indolence on the part of the colonisers. However this site was dismantled in 1845, on the orders of Governor George Grey, who thought it best to take the children away from their parents, and a new Native School run by the government, which taught only in English, was established near what is now Kintore Avenue. The Native School closed in 1851, with the remaining children were taken to Poonindie Mission at Port Lincoln on the Eyre Peninsula.

In October 1848 a contingent of 219 Irish orphan girls arrived by the Roman Emperor and were given temporary accommodation in the under-utilised schoolhouse by Matthew Moorhouse, who had the dual responsibilities of Protector of Aborigines and Immigration Officer. It had been expected that these girls, aged 9 to 14, would relieve the servant shortage in the colony, but most found husbands instead. Roman Emperor was followed in June 1849 by Posthumous, Florentia, Sir Edward Parry, and Inconstant, all within a few weeks of each other, and additional accommodation for those who did not find a placement immediately was provided at the "Native Location". It was not long before a letter was published in the South Australian Register by one Michael D'Arcy, writing as "Aliquis", alleging that these women were being paid for sex by male colonists.

The South Australian Government instituted the Emigration Board, whose remit was to assist new arrivals who as yet were unable to support themselves. By 1848 it had become the Emigration and Destitute Poor Department, which after dropping the "Emigration" remained the responsible department until around 1910, under the direction of the Destitute Board. They had two programs: "outdoor":distribution of rations to those who would otherwise starve, and "indoor": provision of shelter and medical attention to the homeless.

In 1855 the Asylum had accommodation for 66 inmates, but held 25 males and 46 females, many of whom had been transferred for convalescence from the chronically overcrowded Adelaide Hospital.

In October 1879 ten inmates who were beyond medical help, but whose condition was not contagious and were mentally sound, were transferred to the Home for Incurables in Fullarton, which establishment was later renamed the Julia Farr Centre in honour of its founder.