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Lady Lawley Cottage by the Sea
Years of Operation1903 - ongoing
Role Of FacilityOver the years, Lady Lawley Cottage has provided respite and convalescent care for sick and recovering children, and care for children with disabilities.
Lady Lawley Cottage no longer provides permanent residential placements, though extended stays can be negotiated in a crisis situation, depending on the length of stay and available space.
Sponsoring AgencyAustralian Red Cross since 1946. Prior to that, a Board of Management ran Lady Lawley Cottage.
Address(es)8 Gibney Street, Cottesloe
Brief HistoryRespite and convalescent care provided for children from 1903.
Cited in the Annual Reports of the Child Welfare Department in 1934 and 1935 as a licensed institution for private foster children under six years of age. 2 children noted as admissions.
The facility was evacuated during the war years 1941-45.
Still listed in Departmental files as a respite placement facility in 1979.
While continuing to operate, Lady Lawley Cottage does not provide permanent residential placements.
RecordsThe Australian Red Cross reports that limited records survived the evacuation during World War II. There is some information from 1945 to the present, including some admission information, but limited records. Records of care exist only for the last twenty years.
Please note that older records are only available for confirmation of admission/discharge.
The Battye Library holds some general information about Lady Lawley Cottage.
Departmental case records for young people placed by the Child Welfare Department or its successor agencies may reside with the Department of Communities.
AccessWhile access to records is restricted to protect the privacy of individuals, people are encouraged to enquire.
Contact DetailsAustralian Red Cross,
110 Goderich Street, East Perth WA 6004
Telephone: (08) 9225 8888
Freecall: 1800 810 710
Email: wainfo@redcross.org.au
Web: www.redcross.org.au

For people wishing to access the Battye Library’s collection of historical material:
The State Library of Western Australia,
Alexander Library Building, State Cultural Centre, Perth WA 6000.
Telephone: (08) 9427 3111 (local) or 1800 198 107 (WA country callers)
Facsimilie: (08) 9427 3256 Email: info@liswa.wa.gov.au
Opening hours for the Battye Library at time of publication are:
Monday-Thursday 9am-8pm; Friday 9am-5:30pm;
Saturday/Sunday 10am-5:30pm

Departmental Records:
Freedom of Information
Department of Communities
Locked Bag 5000, Fremantle WA 6959
Telephone: (08) 6414 3344
Country free call: 1800 176 888
Email: foi@communities.wa.gov.au
Website: www.communities.wa.gov.au
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