Built to the memory of Father Smyth who arrived in Adelaide in 1853, a priest who worked tirelessly to promote the Catholic Churches in country regions of South Australia and was instrumental in the erection of St Francis Xavier's Cathedral. He died in 1870 as the Vicar-General of the Colony.  [Southern Cross (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1954), Friday 4 November 1932, page 5]

Following his death a Memorial Chapel was erected and was quoted as 'one of the finest examples of Gothic Architecture in South Australia. Octagonal in plan, with walls of carved stone, four of which are carried up as gables, and with delightful detail of cut freestone. The carved -stone , winged, grotesque gargoyles at the top of each buttress are a rare feature in Australian architecture'

In 1931, the building was showing signs of stress and it was considered to be  'worthy of preservation'. A  cost effective plan to restore the chapel at a cost of £500 was approved. [Southern Cross (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1954), Friday 4 November 1932, page 5}