Castledare Boys Home (fmr)

Statement of Significance

Castledare Boys' Home (fmr), a purpose built institution designed around a brick and corrugated galvanised iron Federation Queen Anne style house featuring attic space and an octagonal belvedere, and also consisting of a brick dining room added to the rear of the house, two brick cottages with dormitory wings, a brick classroom, a brick hall, a Women's Auxiliary building, a Marian Shrine and a laundry amongst a complex of other buildings and a landscape of mature trees, has cultural heritage significance for the following reasons:
- it is the only known purpose designed residential school developed according to the new ideals for treatment of the intellectually handicapped in the late 1920s in Western Australia at a time of great debate about appropriate treatment of the intellectually handicapped and mentally ill;
- the place has importance as being technically innovative;
- the place is an important marker in the development of Catholic education in Western Australia;
- it is important for the social history of the work and recreation of the Christian Brothers and the boys and lay people who generously contributed to the school since its initiation;
- the site is one of the earlier settlements in the Canning district and the homestead 'Niana' is representative of the growing wealth of the district at the turn of the century;
- the style of the original house is uncommon in the City of Canning and is valued by the community for its aesthetic characteristics; and,
- it is important for its close association with local identities such as the Flemings and Meares.

Physical Description

Castledare is located on high ground and river flats adjacent to the Canning River. It was originally developed as a pastoral property and then a school in 1929. All buildings bar the “Niana” homestead were demolished and replaced at the turn of the Twenty-first Century with brick and tile aged-care accommodation.
The “Niana” homestead is representative of the Federation Queen Anne style of architecture and is prominently located on the highest point of the land. It has tuck-pointed red brick walls surrounded by a generous bull nose vernadah, which is supported by turned timber posts. The hipped corrugated iron roof has projecting gables with timber and rough render infill. There is also a convex steel belvedere stop of the roof.
A large blond brick and tile Church built in 1957 remains on site. The main façade of the Church has a recessed gable lined with small mosaic tiles set above steel framed doors and windows.

History

Castledare was opened by the Christian Brothers as a centre for intellectually handicapped Catholic boys in 1929.
The site of the home consisted of 83 acres of land on the banks of the Canning River and contained a brick Federation style residence of seventeen rooms. The property had been occupied since 1895 by three successive families, the Flemings, the Meares and the McLeods. The Conservation Plan for Castledare suggests the Federation style residence was built by the Flemings between 1906 and 1908. The property was originally known as “Balmoral” and was not referred to as “Niana” (the name of the Federation style residence) until the Meares were in residence.
In 1927 the property was purchased by the Roman Catholic Bishop of Perth who sought to open a home for “sub-normal” children. Castledare opened in March 1929 with ten boys and under the directorship of Brother G. Hyland. The home consisted of the renovated and extended Federation style house and two cottages and a classroom block which were built for the opening. An existing farm building was renovated to provide a handicraft workshop.
One of the unique features of Castledare was the purpose built “Cottage Homes” as they symbolised a more humane approach to childcare. An approach considered more superior to congregate living in large institutions.
There was never more than thirty intellectually handicapped boys at any one time at Castledare during the first four years. By 1933, Castledare had stopped catering specifically for intellectually handicapped and had become a home for all types of under privileged boys. In the late 1930s and after World War II child migrants mainly from England and Malta were integrated into home.
During the 1950s a rebuilding program was undertaken including classrooms and the Chapel to the Mother of Perpetual Succour, constructed in 1957 and blessed and opened by Archbishop Prendiville. In 1977 the chapel became the Parish Church of Wilson. The school closed in 1984, and is no longer used as a children's home.
In 1998 the site was redeveloped as an aged care facility and retirement village called Castledare Retirement Village and operated by Catholic Homes Incorporated. “Niana” the Federation style residence was retained as part of the redevelopment with the balance of the classroom and school facilities demolished.
The Castledare Miniature Railway came into being through the action of a model engineer, Mr. Keith Watson. Having completed a 71⁄4" gauge 0‐4‐2 tank steam engine named “Nellie” in early 1963, he required a track somewhere to run and operate it to give pleasure to others.
After searching around, Castledare Boys Home, on the banks of the Canning River was located and appeared to be an ideal location to build a railway. An agreement was made with the Brothers of Castledare Boys Home orphanage, whereby a proportion of monies raised by the railway would be paid to the boys home. The boys of the home would be encouraged to help build the railway. The first public run on this track coincided with the boy’s home Annual Field Day in October 1963.

Integrity/Authenticity

House (Federation style villa)-1895
Moderate
Alterations: Requires further investigation
Intactness of fabric: Requires further investigation
Condition: Requires further investigation

School buildings 1929-1950's
Alterations: Requires further investigation
Intactness of fabric: Requires further investigation
Condition: Requires further investigation

Chapel-1957
Intactness of fabric: Good
Condition: Good

Condition

Good: well maintained

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Disclaimer

This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.