Robert Mitchell (1851–1929) was an Australian

Presbyterian Presbyterianism is a part of the Reformed tradition within Protestantism that broke from the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland by John Knox, who was a priest at St. Giles Cathedral (Church of Scotland). Presbyterian churches derive their nam ...

minister who became the first Presbyterian to be ordained in

South Australia South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories ...

Childhood

Mitchell arrived in

Adelaide, South Australia Adelaide ( ) is the list of Australian capital cities, capital city of South Australia, the state's largest city and the list of cities in Australia by population, fifth-most populous city in Australia. "Adelaide" may refer to either Greater A ...

as an infant in 1855 with his parents, Robert and Agnes, and older brother Thomas, from

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the ...

. He attended Salt Creek School and North Adelaide Grammar School prior to commencing studies for the ministry in 1868.

Service as Minister

In 1872 he began pastoral work in

Clare Clare may refer to: Places Antarctica * Clare Range, a mountain range in Victoria Land Australia * Clare, South Australia, a town in the Clare Valley * Clare Valley, South Australia Canada * Clare (electoral district), an electoral district * Cl ...

. In 1882 he set up a congregation in

Port Augusta Port Augusta is a small city in South Australia. Formerly a port, seaport, it is now a road traffic and Junction (rail), railway junction city mainly located on the east coast of the Spencer Gulf immediately south of the gulf's head and about ...

. In 1884 he and Rev. W. F. Main organized the Smith of Dunesk Mission. The mission's base was at Beltana and the parish covered 77,700 km². Mitchell was the first missionary at Beltana and for the next four years Mitchell travelled widely and provided a range of services, including first aid and dentistry, in addition to the usual religious services. His work underpinned that of Rev. John Flynn and the development of the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

Death

He died at Goodwood in 1929 and was buried in Payneham Cemetery.

References

Australian Presbyterian ministers Australian people of Scottish descent 1851 births 1929 deaths {{Australia-reli-bio-stub