Sesquicentenary of Adelaide Benevolent & Strangers` Friend SocietyPrint Page

The plaque commemorates the sesquicentenary of the founding of the Adelaide Benevolent and Strangers` Friend Society in February 1849 and the refurbishment of Elder Hall.

Established in 1849, the Adelaide Benevolent Society is the oldest Charity in South Australia and has been providing affordable rental housing since 1878. Officially known as the Adelaide Benevolent and Strangers’ Friend Society Inc., it became an incorporated association in 1968.

ADELAIDE BENEVOLENT AND STRANGERS` FRIEND SOCIETY. 

Fortunately for the interests of this colony, the pure charity and active benevolence of single and associated individuals have gone far to compensate for the ungainliness of the prescribed relief and measured sustenance which mainly constitute the Government "aid" doled out to the houseless, the destitute, and the afflicted. It was formerly said there were no poor in South Australia. This was perfectly true in the English sense of the word; but there was always room for the exercise of private charity; and now, we regret to say, owing to some injudicious selections of emigrants by the Commissioners, and the uninvited and gratuitous influx of unsuitable colonists, who, having managed to pay their own passages, land in a state of actual destitution, we have now a number of unexpected claimants for whom something must be done.

A new proof of disinterested benevolence is now before us, in the Rules and Regulations of the "Adelaide Benevolent and Strangers' Friend Society," one of the chief objects of which is to administer relief to the sick and indigent, especially amongst newly-arrived emigrants; and to promote the moral and spiritual welfare of the recipients and their children. The annual subscription is only 10s.6d.,and we are fully persuaded the requisite support will be generously and regularly contributed,and that the funds will be discreetly, righteously, and usefully administered. Under these impressions we earnestly commend the Society to the respectful consideration and cordial furtherance of all who have anything to bestow in systematic charity; who feel the duties inseparable from circumstances of affluence or super abundance, but who have not the leisure or inclination to become the almoners of their own bounty and who would manifest their patriotism by exalting the country of their adoption in the estimation of all who land upon its shores.

We cannot dismiss this brief notice without awarding an especial need of praise to the gentleman, who has so readily undertaken the honorary duties of  Secretary. Since Mr Maguire set foot in this colony (where it is his intention to practise in the legal profession, as soon as the residential and official qualifications have been acquired by him) he appears to have been active in every good work, and has been mainly instrumental in founding more than one institution calculated to benefit his fellow-colonists. The cold and selfish man of the world may regard such gratuitous or imperfectly requited services as mere stepping-stones to a good connection now, and a lucrative practice in future: but we believe we only do Mr Maguire simple justice, when we state exalted principles than those connected with the mere expectation of ultimate gain. The friendly and purely charitable visitations of the select members, will, we hope, be seasoned with discretion and Christian humility, and as free as possible from any charge of denominational favouritism; so that the afflicted, and disconsolate stranger, the widow,and the fatherless, may find a home amongst brethren, even in a country so far removed from the land of their birth. 
South Australian Register (Adelaide), 28 February 1849.

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