Cottesloe House

Cottesloe House was a cottage home, established by the Salvation Army in Mount Lawley around 1973. Previously, the premises had been the Witnell House Girls’ Home (which was informally also called Cottesloe House). The Cottesloe House cottage home accommodated boys and girls, including siblings, until at least 1979.

By 1979 there were ten children living at Cottesloe House: five were wards and five were private admissions. In that year, Cottesloe House was described as providing longer term care for boys and girls aged 5-17 years but admitting children for shorter stays if needed. Sibling groups were admitted.

Cottesloe House had a garden, play area, trampoline, swings and slides, barbeque, cricket pitch, cubby house, one pet, bikes and a range of sporting equipment. Children went to church or Sunday school. There were 6 bedrooms – 1 single and 5 doubles; a lounge room; kitchen/dining; 3 bathrooms and 4 toilets; a study, playroom and office; a verandah and 3 staff bedrooms and 1 staff bathroom and toilet; a pool or table tennis table; TV, piano; radio or radiogram, fish tank; library, books and toys were available. Children took their lunch to school, to which they walked. The average length of stay was up to 4 years. Holiday placements were actively sought for the children. Recreational activities included swimming, sporting clubs, cricket, camping trips, picnics and parties and other activities arranged by cottage parents. (Department of Child Welfare Submission to the Committee of Enquiry into Residential Child Care, July 1976, reported in Signposts, 2004).

It is not certain when Cottesloe House ceased to house children. Sources indicate that it is likely that the cottage home was closed sometime between 1979 and 1984. By 1984, the Mount Lawley site was being used as a boys’ hostel, called Withnell House.