„Australijos lietuvis“, November 14, 1955

The idea of acquiring a property for the Australian Lithuanian Community (ALC) in Adelaide emerged as early as 1953.
The Adelaide chapter board of the Australian Lithuanian Community formed a committee chaired by lawyer Vladas Pozela. The committee prepared a draft of the articles of association for a joint-stock company and began collecting donations. However, the committee failed to popularize the idea of a Lithuanian House.

Then, the chapter board, led by Liudas Martinkus, convened a special meeting of the Adelaide Lithuanian Community on May 15, 1955. During the meeting, the legal possibilities for entities (organizations) operating in South Australia were clarified. It turned out that, in order to acquire and manage real estate in an organized manner, it was necessary to form either a joint-stock or cooperative company, or a non-profit organization – a society.

The meeting decided to establish a society and elected a committee, whose members were: chairman – V. Raginis, vice chairman – J. Kalvaitis, secretary – J. Pyragius, treasurer – A. Sliuzas, head of technical affairs – engineer L. Garbaliauskas, technical advisor – engineer and architect K. Reisonas, legal advisor – lawyer St. Cibiras.

On September 18, 1955, at a community meeting in Adelaide, the statutes prepared by the committee were approved. After the statutes were registered with government institutions on October 24, 1955, the founding meeting of the Adelaide Lithuanian Society took place on November 6, 1955.

Australian Lithuanian Archives

Adelaide, January 25, 1956

The goal of the Adelaide Lithuanian Society was to secure premises and resources for the Lithuanian community to carry out social and cultural activities: sports, entertainment, leisure, and celebrations, as well as to support and assist charitable and community Lithuanian institutions. The Society accepted donations and collected membership fees from its members. Any Lithuanian or person of Lithuanian descent aged 18 or older could become a member, regardless of gender, religious or political beliefs — with the exception of communists.

Australian Lithuanian Archives

Adelaide, 1956 and 1959

The Adelaide Lithuanian Society grew steadily over time. At the founding meeting, 40 Lithuanians joined the Society; by 1962, the number had increased to 188. In 1983, the Lithuanian Society had 304 full members and 25 supporting members.

Australian Lithuanian Archives

The Adelaide Lithuanian Society inherited only £73 (pounds sterling) from the former committee that had aimed to acquire a Lithuanian House. At first, little was collected from membership fees due to the small number of members. Various methods were introduced to raise funds: collecting donations through receipts, donation boxes, organizing raffles and outdoor festivals (geguzines).

Over time, fundraising improved — during the Lithuanian House campaign, an average of about £1200 (pounds sterling) was raised. Special funds were established: the Youth Fund and the Brick Fund. The goal of the Youth Fund was to attract Lithuanians born in Australia. A sheet from the Youth Fund would often be purchased for young people by relatives or family members, and later the recipient could become a member of the Society. The Brick Fund raised money by selling brick receipts worth two shillings each.

Australian Lithuanian Archives

Adelaide, December 9, 1957

A couple of years after the founding of the Lithuanian Society, following vigorous fundraising and the search for a suitable building for Lithuanian needs, the Lithuanian House was purchased on December 9, 1957, near the center of Adelaide. After a long search and thorough consideration, the decision to buy was made based on the fact that the building was immediately suitable for Lithuanian activities and stood on a double-sized standard lot. The large building had previously been a Baptist church. Shortly thereafter, it became home to a Lithuanian school and library.

Australian Lithuanian Archives, PH0658

Adelaide, September 7, 1958

Australian Lithuanian Archives

Adelaide, May 31, 1959

On March 23, 1959, the Lithuanian Society succeeded in purchasing half of the neighboring lot next to the Lithuanian House at a low price. It also secured the first right of refusal to purchase the remaining part of the lot, which included a residential house. In 1960, the remaining part of the lot was also purchased.The ever-increasing use of the building and the expanding activities held at the Lithuanian House created the need for its expansion and renovation.

Australian Lithuanian Archives

Author – Karolis Reisonas

Adelaide, September 23, 1959

The expansion and renovation project for the Lithuanian House was prepared by the Vice Chairman of the Adelaide Lithuanian Society, engineer and architect K. Reisonas. In 1960, reconstruction work began, carried out either by hired contractors or through volunteer efforts organized by the Lithuanian community in Adelaide.First, four rooms were added to the north side of the hall. Later, a vestibule, kitchen, library, and restrooms were constructed. In 1961, with the help of community volunteers, work began on extending the front facade of the Lithuanian House. In 1966, the hall was expanded, the stage enlarged, and rooms for a museum and archive were built.

Australian Lithuanian Archives

Adelaide, [1960–1962]

A major contributor to the expansion and reconstruction of the Lithuanian House was engineer and architect Karolis Reisonas (in Latvian Kārlis Reisons, 1894–1981), respectfully referred to as the “Father of the Lithuanian House.” Of Latvian origin, Reisonas was a prominent architect in both Lithuania and Australia. After designing many impressive buildings and structures in Lithuania, he fled to Germany in 1944 and emigrated to Australia in 1949, where he worked as an architect in the city of Adelaide.

K. Reisonas served as the chief volunteer for the Lithuanian House project, overseeing all construction work, and acted as the Vice Chairman of the Board of the Adelaide Lithuanian Society. He did not miss a single Lithuanian community work bee, actively participated in board meetings, helped plan construction tasks and budgets, calculated and selected building materials. He devoted 500 hours of labor to these efforts.

Australian Lithuanian Archives

Working: M. Urbonas, J. Lapsys, S. Povilaitis, A. Mikeliunas, Gerdauskas, A. Merunas, V. Raginis, K. Reisonas

Adelaide, 1960

Volunteer work bees organized by the Lithuanians of Adelaide saved a significant amount of money during the reconstruction of the Lithuanian House. People worked at their regular jobs five days a week, and devoted the remaining two – mostly Saturdays – to unpaid work on the Lithuanian House. Volunteers would bring their own tools. The size of the work crews varied, sometimes including up to 20 men.

Australian Lithuanian Archives, PH0011

Adelaide, 1960

Australian Lithuanian Archives, PH0016

From left: M. Rudzinskas, V. Raginis, A. Merunas, A. Morkunas, [Ramanauskas], M. Urbonas, A. Mikeliunas, L. Vasiliunas, Bernaitis, Siuksteris, Marmukonis, K. Reisonas, Reivytis, Kelertas.

Adelaide, 1960

Australian Lithuanian Archives, PH0129

Adelaide, 1960

Australian Lithuanian Archives, PH0504

In the front row from left: „Australijos lietuviu zinios“ editor V. Radzevicius, engineer and vice-chairman K. Reisonas, chairman V. Raginis, vice-chairman V. Petkunas.

In the second row from left: „Australijos lietuviu zinios“ administrator J. Lapsys, 2nd treasurer A. Mikeliunas, 1st treasurer M. Rudzenskas, property guardian B. Jurgelionis, 2nd secretary M. Urbonas, 1st secretary L. Martinkus.

Adelaide, 1961

Vaclovas Raginis (1910–1971) was born in the village of Jonenai, Svencionys district. He studied in Vilnius and later moved to independent Lithuania. In 1932, he graduated from the War School and was later discharged to the reserves. He worked as a clerk in the Ministry of Finance and as a secretary in the Tax Department. He was a member of a riflemen’s company. In 1944, he fled to Germany. In 1947, he joined the American Guard companies and led various Lithuanian-Baltic companies. In 1950, he emigrated to Australia. He lived in Geelong, where he founded a branch of the Australian Lithuanian Society and purchased two land plots for the Lithuanian House there. In 1954, he moved to Adelaide, led the founding of the Adelaide Lithuanian Society, and served as its chairman for about 10 years.

Australian Lithuanian Archives

Seated from left: chairwoman M. Jasiuniene, vice-chairwoman S. Jonaviciene, honorary chairwoman E. Reisoniene, affairs manager N. Varnauskiene, and K. Garbaliauskiene.

Standing: E. Bernaitiene, J. Sereliene.

Adelaide, 1959

In 1952, a Lithuanian social care and relief organization was established in Adelaide, briefly called the Women’s Section. Like the Adelaide Lithuanian Society, the Women’s Section was a subdivision of the Australian Lithuanian Community (ALC) Adelaide branch committee. Initially, the Women’s Section, whose members could be any Lithuanian women in Adelaide, planned only to visit the sick and help struggling families. Later, the activities expanded but all required funding. The women found a solution – they started cooking lunches at the Lithuanian House and began earning money. For many years, members of the Women’s Section worked in the Lithuanian House kitchen, preparing Sunday lunches, Christmas Eve dinners, weddings, and anniversary celebrations. The money they earned supported the Adelaide Lithuanian weekend school, Lithuanian language courses, the “Vaidila” theatre, and the “Vytis” sports club.

Australian Lithuanian Archives, PH0024a

From left: A. Cepliauskiene, S. Laurinaitiene, A. Pyragiene, N. Varnauskiene, B. Vaboliene, E. Reisoniene, and S. Jonaviciene.

Adelaide, 1962

Australian Lithuanian Archives, PH0028a

Seated at the table: Elena Reisoniene, Marija Navakiene, Brone Vaboliene, Stanislava Jonaviciene.

Standing: Anele Morkuniene, Katryna Garbaliauskiene, Paulina Gaveliene, Nadezda Varnauskiene.

[Adelaide], 1962

Elena Reisoniene (1898–1984) was the first chairwoman of the Women’s section. Elena Butneviciutė was born at the Dabikine manor near Akmene. In 1928, she graduated in law from Vytautas Magnus University and worked in the legal profession. In 1930, she married engineer and architect Karolis Reisonas. She emigrated to Germany and in 1949, together with her husband and children Renata and Irvis, came to Australia. A modest, religious, bright, and cultured woman, she inspired many other members of the Women’s section. Her love of Lithuanian books led her to the library and Press kiosk at the Lithuanian House, where she served as a leader for over 10 years.

Australian Lithuanian Archives, PH1001

Front row from left: vice-chairman K. Reisonas, chairman V. Raginis, vice-chairman V. Petkunas, 2nd secretary J. Gudaitis, „Australijos lietuviu zinios“ administrator A. Dumcius.

Back row from left: 1st secretary L. Martinkus, treasurer V. Marcinkevicius, board representative M. Pocius, treasurer K. Pocius, property guardian B. Jurgelionis.

1962

Australian Lithuanian Archives

Adelaide, 1962–1963

Australian Lithuanian Archives, PH0519

Adelaide, February 1, 1963, No. 3

Australian Lithuanian Archives

Adelaide, 1963

Australian Lithuanian Archives, PH0020a

Seated in the front row from left: Archive and Museum director J. Vanagas, J. Baciunas, V. Raginis, engineer K. Reisonas, V. Petkunas.

Standing in the back row from left: L. Martinkus, chairman M. Pocius, V. Radzevicius, K. Pocius, J. Gudaitis, and B. Jurgelionis.

1963

Australian Lithuanian Archives

Adelaide, February 6, 1966

Australian Lithuanian Archives

Adelaide, circa 1970

Australian Lithuanian Archives, PH0661

Adelaide, date unknown

Australian Lithuanian Archives, PH0663

Front row from left: S. Guscia, P. Bielskis, E. Kalibatas, K. Pocius.

Back row from left: D. Dunda, J. Jarusevicius, V. Stalba, V. Marcinkevicius, A. Pocius.

Adelaide, 1980s

Petras Bielskis, chairman of the Adelaide Lithuanian Society, was born in 1927 in Birzai. In 1944, he fled to Germany and arrived in Australia in 1948. Over the years, he became actively involved in the Adelaide Lithuanian community. He dedicated much of his time to the Adelaide Lithuanian Society and the Lithuanian House. He served as chairman of the Society from 1966 to 1989. From 1971 to 1990, he also edited the Society’s publication „Adelaides lietuviu zinios.“ He passed away in 2022.

Australian Lithuanian Archives

Adelaide, February 16, 1981

Australian Lithuanian Archives, PH1013

Seated from the left: V. Marcinkevicius, P. Launikaitis, P. Bielskis, D. Dunda.

Standing from the left: E. Kalibatas, J. Jarusevicius, V. Daugalis, M. Rudzenskas, K. Pocius.

Adelaide, circa 1982

Australian Lithuanian Archives, PH0606

Seated from the left: E. Kalibatas, P. Bielskis, K. Pocius, V. Daugalis.

Standing from the left: S. Guscia, J. Jarusevicius, V. Marcinkevicius, D. Dunda, P. Andrijaitis.

Adelaide, 1983

Australian Lithuanian Archives, PH0655

Adelaide, date unknown

Photo by Alfonsas Budrys.

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the restoration of the Lithuanian Army, a monument was erected in the garden of the Lithuanian House in memory of those who died for Lithuania.

The monument’s bas-relief was created and cast by sculptor Ieva Pociene, and the construction work was supervised by architect and engineer Karolis Reisonas. The construction was carried out by members of the “Ramove” organization. Beneath the monument is embedded the act of the monument’s consecration, a handful of Lithuanian soil, and a coin from Independent Lithuania.

Unveiled on November 24, 1968, the monument depicts a dead or dying man being held by a woman. The woman is tying a traditional headscarf worn by a married woman. The monument’s base is decorated with Gediminas Columns and the Double Cross, with a Lithuanian-style metal cross on top. Next to the monument stands a traditional Lithuanian-style wooden cross and two flagpoles.

Australian Lithuanian Archives, PH0899

Adelaide, 1990

Australian Lithuanian Archives, PH0650