Robert Mitchell (Presbyterian minister)

Robert Mitchell (1851–1929) was an Australian Presbyterian minister who became the first Presbyterian to be ordained in South Australia.^[1]

Mitchell arrived in Adelaide, South Australia as an infant in 1855 with his parents, Robert and Agnes, and older brother Thomas, from Scotland.^[1] He attended Salt Creek School and North Adelaide Grammar School prior to commencing studies for the ministry in 1868.^[1]

In 1872 he began pastoral work in Clare.^[1] In 1882 he set up a congregation in Port Augusta. 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^[2] 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.^[3] His work underpinned that of Rev. John Flynn and the development of the Royal Flying Doctor Service.^[3]

He died at Goodwood in 1929 and was buried in Payneham Cemetery.^[1]

This biographical article about an Australian religious figure is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

• v
• t
• e