Craig House was run by the Country Women’s Association (CWA) from 1949 as a hostel for boys going to the Bunbury High Schoo. From 1965 it also accommodated female students. Craig House closed in 1969 due to financial issues, however was reopened in 1972 under the management of the Country High School Hostels Authority. Craig House closed in 1978.
Craig House was named after Mrs Craig, of Dardenup who had been a State President of the CWA. The National Fitness section of the Education Department intended to use Craig House as a summer camp for children from the outback.
In 1949 Craig House was located on Fraser Street, Bunbury, in premises previously owned by the Eastern Goldfields Fresh Air League (the Western Australian Heritage Council gives the address for this site as Carey Street, however in November 2021 a former resident confirmed the address for Craig House was Fraser Street). The building had been converted by the Education Department for use as a hostel. A newspaper article published in The West Australian in 1953, reporting on an outbreak of influenza at the hostel, states that it had accommodation for 58 boys.
Craig House remained at the Fraser street location until around 1965, when it merged with the local girls hostel and moved to newly constructed premises at the corner of Pickersgill, Acacia and Sherry Streets in Bunbury. This hostel, which was made up of four separate buildings connected by a covered patio, could accommodate up to 96 students in separate dormitories, however in 1966 it only housed 41 students. This site has been identified as a heritage listed site (Place No. 07167).
A former resident of Craig house who contacted Find & Connect in November 2021 stated that boys at the home were sometimes employed by Bunbury residents doing odd jobs around the town after school hours and on weekends.
Craig House closed in 1969 due to financial issues, and its association with the CWA ended. Craig House was then reopened in 1972 under the management of the Country High School Hostels Authority, before closing once more in 1978. The hostel was demolished around 1991.
From
1949
To
1978
Alternative Names
Bunbury Senior High School Hostel
Craig Hostel
1949 - c. 1965
Craig House was located in premises between Carey Street and Fraser Street, Bunbury, Western Australia (Building Demolished)
c. 1965 - 1969
Craig House was located on the corner of Pickersgill, Acacia and Sherry Streets, Bunbury, Western Australia (Building Demolished)
1972 - 1978
Craig House re-opened on the corner of Pickersgill, Acacia and Sherry Streets, Bunbury, Western Australia (Building Demolished)