Published Resources Details
Resource Section
- Title
- Our History
- In
- St Vincent's Institute of Medical Research website
- Imprint
- St Vincent's Institute of Medical Research, 2024
- Url
- https://www.svi.edu.au/about/our-history/
- Description
From the website: Beginnings
The St Vincent's School of Medical Research (renamed St Vincent's Institute in 1984) was established thanks to a generous bequest from racehorse trainer, Jack Holt.Holt's life had been devoted to racing, where he achieved great success and distinction as a trainer and a judge of quality thoroughbreds. Known locally as the "The Wizard of Mordialloc", Holt lived his entire life together with his two sisters, Margaret and Catherine, in a small eight-roomed cottage called 'Lethe' which he built himself.
While Holt's business acumen and skill as a trainer led to the development of a rather large fortune, above all he was known for his good humour and generosity.
The death of his beloved sister Catherine in 1945 provoked him to bequeath the majority of his considerable assets to found a school of medical research at St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne. Upon Holt's death in 1951, the St Vincent's School of Medical Research was established under the control of the Sisters of Charity at St Vincent's Hospital.