25 May 1978   Alex Ramsay and the Housing Trust

When Alex Ramsay died suddenly on 25 May 1978 he had served, in a most distinguished manner, as General Manager of the South Australian Housing Trust, for over 29 years.

When the Trust was formed in 1936 it was Australia's first public housing authority and later was recognised as its best. Sir Lavington Bonython agreed to be Honorary Chairman and Horace Hogben, described as the Father of the Trust, was appointed to the Board in 1940 and was Deputy Chairman from 1941-67. Many other well known Adelaide people have served on the Board over the years.

The Depression of the 1930s had brought to light the desperate need of many families for basic shelter. At the same time it was also realised that the State needed to expand its industrial sector and there was a link between the two. Years later Ramsay explained the aims of the Trust:

The Trust's charter is to provide housing for those on limited incomes and to use its programs both to achieve social objectives and to assist the industrial growth of the State.

From its first 84 homes built in the metropolitan area in 1938, to 1986 the Trust had been involved in the building, purchasing or leasing, of over 105,000 homes throughout the State.

Susan Marsden, Business,Charity and Sentiment , Wakefield Press, Adelaide, 1986.