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Western Australia - Organisation

Wanslea Hostel (1943 - 1946)

  • Wanslea Hostel

    Wanslea Hostel, 2013, courtesy of Google Street View.
    Details

From
1943
To
1946
Categories
Children's Home, Home, Non-denominational and Temporary Care

Wanslea Hostel was established in North Perth (Mt Lawley) in 1943 by the Women's Australian National Service (WANS) for young children who could not live at home due to parental sickness or war-related absence. It closed in 1946 and was replaced by a larger children's Home, Wanslea (Cottesloe), in January 1947.

Details

Wanslea Hostel was established in North Perth (Mt Lawley) in 1943 by the Women's Australian National Service (WANS) for 'the children of sick mothers who were wives of servicemen'.

The hostel was at 30 Bulwer Street, in a building which had previously been the Lister Private Hospital and Nurse Harvey's Maternity Hospital. Renovations were undertaken, including repainting in pastel shades, and the construction of children's hot and cold showers, playground and child-size beds.

When the hostel was officially opened on 8 November 1943, 30 children were living there and by December 1943, there were 87 children in residence, 53 being children of servicemen.

It closed in 1946 and was replaced by a larger children's Home, Wanslea (Cottesloe), in January 1947.

Events

1943 - 1946
Address - Wanslea was run by the Women's Australian National Service (WANS) at 30 Bulwer Street, North Perth. Location: North Perth

Timeline

 1943 - 1946 Wanslea Hostel
       1947 - 1984 Wanslea

Related Organisations

Publications

Online Resources

Photos

Children running 3-legged race, Wanslea
Title
Children running 3-legged race, Wanslea
Type
Image
Date
1940s
Source
State Library of Western Australia

Details

Group of children at Wanslea
Title
Group of children at Wanslea
Type
Image
Date
1940s
Source
State Library of Western Australia

Details

Wanslea Children's Home
Title
Wanslea Children's Home
Type
Image
Date
1940s
Source
State Library of Western Australia

Details

Wanslea Hostel
Title
Wanslea Hostel
Type
Image
Date
2013
Source
Google Street View

Details

Sources used to compile this entry: Heritage Council of Western Australia, 'Wanslea', in inHerit, Western Australia State Heritage Office, Government of Western Australia, 8 February 2015, http://inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au/public/p/598. p.7.; Western Australia. Department for Community Development, 'p.55', ROADS. An index of locations and access to adoption records., with Adoption Service, Department for Community Development, Dept. For Community Development, 2005, https://web.archive.org/web/20110327071024/http://www.dcp.wa.gov.au/FosteringandAdoption/Documents/ROADS2006.pdf.

Prepared by: Debra Rosser