Withnell House was located in the Perth suburb of Mount Lawley. It was a hostel run by the Salvation Army from 1952 for boys who were Wards (migrant or Australian-born) who worked in the city. Withnell House ceased to be a hostel for boys in 1969. From that time, the building became known “Withnell House Girls’ Home”; it accommodated residents and staff from transferred to Mount Lawley from the former Salvation Army Girls’ Home, Cottesloe.
Withnell House, Mt Lawley, was donated to the Salvation Army by Mrs Ellen Withnell in 1948. Some time after this, it was used by the Salvation Army Boys’ Home, Nedlands, as an annexe. In September 1952, Withnell House became the Salvation Army’s first Youth Hostel.
Withnell House closed in 1969. It is possible that any boys in residence at the hostel at time were transferred to the Hollywood Children’s Village in Nedlands. In 1969, the building became a Salvation Army home for girls (residents and staff were transferred to Mount Lawley from the Salvation Army Girls’ Home, Cottesloe). Because of this, the Mount Lawley home was sometimes called ‘Cottesloe House’. Its official name was ‘Withnell House Girls’ Home’.
This page was written by Debra Rosser and Rebe Taylor, last updated 2 October 2024. Sources used to create this entry:
From
1952
To
1969?
1952? - 1969
Withnell House was located at 68 Guildford Road, Mount Lawley, Western Australia (Building Demolished)
