Remembering Bishop Hale

Over his long career Mathew Blagden Hale (1811-1895) participated in key aspects of nineteenth century Australian colonialism. Hale was ordained as a priest in the Church of England at the age of 26, an exciting time for idealistic young Britons following the abolition of slavery in 1833, and a high point of enthusiasm for missionary work around the empire. But it was not until 1847 that he joined the new Bishop of Adelaide Augustus Short in travelling to the colony of South Australia, where his long-cherished desire to help Aboriginal people prompted him to establish Poonindie Mission, near Port Lincoln. He first visited Western Australia in 1848, where he met his wife Sabina, of the prominent Molloy settler family. He was appointed the first Anglican Bishop of Perth in 1857, and during his tenure made significant contributions to the institutions of church and education, as well as important debates of the day such as transportation. In 1875 he was appointed Bishop of Brisbane. He retired in 1885, and returned to England, where he continued to promote the Church’s mission to Aboriginal people to the end of his life.