Federal government commits millions to 120 ‘housing dwellings’ at St Mary’s complex in Alice Springs

The site – which the government purchased for $3m last year – is a former boarding school for Stolen Generation children, and also houses a heritage listed mural. Find out what the latest plan for it is.

A boarded up building next to the St Mary's Church, home to the heritage listed Robert Czako mural, Alice Springs. Picture: Gera Kazakov

Completing “enabling infrastructure” works are the first part of a plan to turn a complex which housed Stolen Generation children south of Alice Springs into a site with around 120 “housing dwellings,” the Territory’s planning minister says.

While no exact date has been set, lands, planning, and environment minister Josh Burgoyne said works to complete “enabling infrastructure” would commence at the St Mary’s Hostel site “mid-2025”.

Lands, planning, and environment minister Josh Burgoyne at St Mary's Hostel complex, south of Alice Springs. Picture: Facebook

“Construction of enabling infrastructure means getting the land ready to support housing, transportation, and general economic activities. It includes things such as roads and drainage, sewerage pipelines, street lighting, electrical et cetera,” he said.

The announcement of new works for the site comes as the federal government gives the Territory government $14 million to build new housing at the site.

The NT government purchased the St Mary’s site from the Anglican Diocese of the Northern Territory in February 2024.

NTG paid $3.25 million for the site, which at the time then Labor urban housing minister Ngaree Ah Kit said would become a “beneficial community asset”.

However, months after the purchase, this masthead reported concerns from local historian Alex Nelson, who said the site was sitting neglected and becoming a fire hazard.

Alice Springs local historian Alex Nelson. Picture: Gera Kazakov

Works to trim overgrown grass were completed in October last year.

The chapel in St Mary’s houses a heritage listed mural by Hungarian artist Robert Czako.

It was also a boarding for school for Aboriginal children between 1947 and 1972.

This generation of children would later become known as the Stolen Generation.

A heritage listed mural by Hungarian artist Robert Czako in the St Mary's Hostel complex, south of Alice Springs. Picture: Supplied

The site is currently owned by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Community Development and covers 8.22 hectares.

Mr Burgoyne said it “presents a significant opportunity to address housing needs in Alice Springs”.

“The St Mary’s site offers the potential to accommodate approximately 120 housing dwellings and other community purpose uses, while preserving the historic chapel and the mural within it, as well as other sites of cultural significance – including numerous trees on the land,” he said.

A building in the St Mary's Hostel complex which has an asbestos warning. Picture: Gera Kazakov

“The specific details of any future housing development to be constructed on the St Mary’s site will be determined by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Community Development.

“It is early days and details surrounding construction are still being worked through. What we do know is that we have money on the table that will go towards the enabling infrastructure and site preparation works, which are expected to commence mid-2025.”

Originally published as Federal government commits millions to 120 ‘housing dwellings’ at St Mary’s complex in Alice Springs