New House of Providence, West Terrace, 1931

State Library Catalogue Reference: B 5154

The House of Providence provided charitable shelter to hundreds of women, especially the frail aged, from 1905 to 1951. Seen here in 1929, the house started life in 1889 as the residence of Phillip Santo JP at 19 West Terrace on the corner of Philip Street, which changed its number to 31 in 1915.

On 11 April 1906 it was purchased by the Sisters of St Joseph of the Catholic Church with the approval of its head Mary Mackillop, who became Australia's first Saint in 2010. Sister Elizabeth Etteridge was in charge of the House. This new wing of the House of Providence, at 32 West Terrace, was acquired in 1930.

By 1951 the Providence became overcrowded and the Josephites moved elsewhere. The building then had several owners and fell into disrepair. It was demolished in 1990 and the land acquired by Adelaide Motors, whose then proprietor Mr Vin Kean placed a plaque on the footpath to mark this historic place.