Applecross Cottage

Applecross Cottage opened in 1970 as a suburban cottage which was part of Mogumber. It was run by the Methodist Overseas Mission (1972-1974), Mogumber Training Centre (1974-1980) and Sister Kate’s Child and Family Care Services (1980-1985). In 1975, Applecross provided short term care for up to eight children aged 5 to 17 years in a hostel-like setting. In 1985 or 1986, the property was passed to the Aboriginal Lands Council.

Applecross Cottage began as a suburban branch of Mogumber in 1970, in a house at 62 Matheson Road. It was run by the Methodist Overseas Mission under agreement with the Department of Native Welfare and, from 1972, the Department for Community Welfare. Some of the children attended the Applecross Primary and High Schools.

The house at Matheson Road had previously been used for aged care and there was quite a bit of opposition to using the house as a Children’s Home. In a report written in 1971 it was said that the presence of a number of other institutions in the local area contributed to the opposition by residents (Signposts, p.87).

Applecross Cottage was an example of what was known as a scatter cottage, a smaller Home run by an institution but not on the same property as the main institutional buildings. Usually, up to 10 children lived in a scatter cottage with houseparents.

In 1971, Applecross Cottage was counted as one of several Aboriginal Education and Employment Hostels in the metropolitan area, providing a base for Aboriginal children and young people to go to school and obtain other training in Perth.

In 1972, the child welfare responsibilities of the Department of Native Welfare passed to the Department for Community Welfare (DCW). Applecross Cottage was run by a number of Methodist and, after 1977, Uniting Church agencies under agreement with the DCW. From 1972, Applecross was run by the Methodist Overseas Mission. In 1974, after Mogumber closed, the Mogumber Training Centre (MTC) took over from the Methodist Overseas Mission and in 1980 Sister Kate’s Child and Family Care Services took over from the MTC.

Many of the children and young people who were placed at Applecross Cottage were wards of the State.

By 1975, Applecross was providing short-term accommodation for up to eight 5-17 year olds. A description of Applecross Cottage in 1975 noted there was a trampoline in the garden, a TV and piano. The hostel-like Home had six bedrooms (able to be shared by two children). Children walked to local schools and took their lunch with them. The average length of time children stayed at Applecross Cottage was 9 months.

In 1980, the Mogumber Training Centre became part of Sister Kate’s Child and Family Care Services, which then ran Applecross Cottage until, in the 1985-86 financial year, the property was passed to the Aboriginal Lands Council.