Adelaide House (Alice Springs)

Adelaide House also known as Australian Inland Mission Hostel on the Todd Mall in Alice Springs (formerly Stuart) was the first purpose built hospital to a design by the Reverend John Flynn and was completed in 1926.

[2] Before Adelaide House was built there was no doctor in the region and people had to rely on their own experience and basic supplies in case of general illness.

[2] With further funds raised construction restarted in 1925 when Flynn hired Bert and Angus McLeod from Adelaide and it was completed and opened on 24 June 1926.

[1][2] Once completed, Adelaide House was the 9th in a network of 14 medical facilities established by the AIM and they were an important part of the "mantle of safety" Flynn envisioned for the people of the outback.

[2] In February 1934 the government decided they would no longer allow Aboriginal people to use Adelaide House and a galvanised-iron hut was built on the east bank of the Todd River; this became known as the "blacks' hospital".