The Barefoot Kangaroo Point Schoolboy Who Went to War

Long before Ted Smout became Queensland’s last surviving First World War veteran, he was a barefoot Brisbane schoolboy making a determined daily journey to Kangaroo Point.

New research into Smout’s 106-year life has brought renewed attention to his early years at Kangaroo Point State School, where he remained a pupil even after his family moved back to Dutton Park. Smout continued making the journey for about six months because he hoped to win the school’s dux medal.

A long walk to school

Smout was born in Brisbane in 1898 and spent his childhood in several inner-city neighbourhoods. His family lived in Woolloongabba and Dutton Park before moving to Kangaroo Point, where he attended the local state school.

When the family returned to Dutton Park, Smout did not immediately follow them to another school. He later recalled walking about two miles each way to Kangaroo Point State School, barefoot, for another six months.

The reason was competition. Smout wanted the dux medal and believed he had a chance of winning it if he remained at the school. The prize ultimately went to another pupil, but the journey became one of the childhood stories Smout would still remember many decades later.

From classroom to uniform

At 16, Smout began working as a junior clerk in Queensland’s Audit Office. War had broken out in Europe, and within a year he was trying to enlist.

Smout was 17 years and eight months old when he joined the Australian Imperial Force in September 1915. He overstated his age by a year and eventually served with the 3rd Australian Sanitary Section of the Australian Army Medical Corps.

Photo Credit: UNSW Canberra Australians at War Film Archive

His duties on the Western Front included inspecting sanitation and water supplies, while periods of fighting brought first-aid and stretcher-bearing work.

At Passchendaele, Smout later recalled working for about 72 hours with little rest as casualties were moved along duckboards through deep mud. He also remembered reaching the scene after German fighter ace Manfred von Richthofen, the Red Baron, was fatally shot down in April 1918.

Coming back to Brisbane

Smout returned to Australia in 1919 after more than three years of military service. His transition back to civilian life was difficult, and he later described suffering delayed shell shock and experiencing a breakdown after coming home.

He resumed work, later moved into insurance and married Ella Stevens in 1923. The couple built a War Service Home in Clayfield and raised three children before Smout’s career and family life took him elsewhere.

Smout remained involved in military and community service over the following decades. He received the Medal of the Order of Australia in 1978 and, at 100, was appointed a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour by France for his First World War service.

*ed Smout (left) in France*
*Photo Credit: UNSW Canberra Australians at War Film Archive*

A life spanning 106 years

Smout died in Brisbane in June 2004 at the age of 106. By then, he was Queensland’s last surviving veteran of the First World War.

His name was later given to the 2.74-kilometre Ted Smout Memorial Bridge across Bramble Bay between Brighton and Clontarf, which opened in 2010.

*Opening Day, Ted Smout Bridge*
*Photo Credit:* Wikipedia/CC BY-SA 3.0

Kangaroo Point holds a much earlier chapter of that 106-year life. Before the battlefields, medals and memorials came a local state school and a boy willing to walk miles barefoot for another chance at its top academic prize.

Published 28-Sept-2026

Capturing the Moment

The artwork on the streets of Kangaroo Point often serves as a time capsule for the community. Astra Ellis’s piece, “COVID Gabba Lights,” documents a specific moment in local history, referencing the nearby stadium and the unique atmosphere of the past few years. Nearby, Nadir Runkovski explores narrative themes with “Freedom – a tale of two cities.”

These works turn standard utility boxes into storytelling devices, allowing locals to reflect on shared experiences and the changing face of the inner city as they wait for the lights to change.

A Family Affair

One specific location, box B0479, highlights the collaborative nature of the Artforce Brisbane program. This single utility box features contributions from three different artists: Anna Sutherland with “Pattern Box,” Michael Romans with “Landscape no. 2,” and Oona Romans with “A gathering place.”

The clustering of these distinct styles—ranging from abstract patterns to scenic views—demonstrates how the initiative brings people together, quite literally sharing the canvas to create a multi-layered piece of public art.

Local Character

Other artists have drawn inspiration from the suburb’s name and residential spirit. Lucia Laus adds a touch of humour to the streetscape with “Climbing Kangaroo,” a literal interpretation that plays on the area’s identity. On a more poetic note, Rachael Dale’s “Two Houses, One Thousand Goodnights” evokes a sense of home and domestic life.

These designs soften the hard edges of the busy roads, reminding commuters that despite the high-rises and traffic, Kangaroo Point remains a neighbourhood where people live, sleep, and dream.

These colourful additions are part of the Brisbane City Council’s long-running Artforce Brisbane initiative. Established in 1999 to combat graffiti on metal infrastructure, the program has grown into a city-wide project involving over 5,000 volunteers.

By providing residents with the supplies to paint over 1,200 boxes, the council has empowered locals to take ownership of their streets. The result is a suburb that feels less like a concrete jungle and more like a community gallery, showcasing the creativity of the people who call it home.

Published Date 22-December-2025

Tag: local history