Silver Chain Nursing League Building

Statement of Significance

Silver Chain Nursing League Building, Perth is a single-storey brick and tile building with elements of the Federation Queen Anne style constructed in 1920. The place has cultural heritage significance for the following reasons:

The place is closely linked to the services provided by Silver Chain, a private organisation established in WA in 1905 to support less fortunate families, providing nursing services from 1907. It was one of the earliest structures built for Silver Chain’s cottage home complex, established at this location in 1916 to accommodate elderly patients who could no longer live independently (Factor A).

The place is an example of the type of facilities provided by Silver Chain, demonstrating the rise and growth of the organisation from its early beginnings in child health and maternity nursing, to its expansion into aged care. It is the only structure remaining from Silver Chain’s previously expansive cottage homes complex (Factors B & D).

Representing an organisation primarily pioneered by, and employing, substantial numbers of women, the place is an important reminder of the contribution of women to the health and care system in Western Australia. Notable women associated with the establishment and growth of the organisation include Muriel Chase, Dr Gertrude Mead, and Frances Drew (Nurse Cherry) (Factors A & G).

The place is highly valued by the WA community for its strong association with the work of Silver Chain. From its charitable beginnings, Silver Chain provided a range of nursing services and facilities throughout the state since 1907 and remains a prominent organisation throughout Australia (Factor E).

Values

(A) Historic Value - evolution or pattern WA history
The place is closely linked to Silver Chain, a private organisation established in WA in 1905 to support less fortunate families, providing nursing services from 1907. It is one of the earliest structures built for Silver Chain’s cottage homes complex, established at this location in 1916 to accommodate elderly patients who could no longer live independently.

The establishment of Silver Chain originally as a children’s club played an important role in connecting children across the State, from metropolitan to regional areas. The children’s annual subscriptions were used to fund Silver Chain’s services, including employing the organisation’s first district nurse.

Representing an organisation which was primarily pioneered by, and employing substantial numbers of women, the place is an important reminder of the contribution of women to the health and care system in Western Australia.

(B) Rarity
Built in 1920, this is the earliest structure remaining from the Silver Chain Wright Street cottage homes complex. It was the first structure purpose-built by Silver Chain, and was the only building retained from this first phase of development prior to a major site redevelopment in 1981.

Silver Chain Nursing League Building, Perth was one of the first purpose-built residential facilities for elderly people in WA.

(C) Scientific Value
Factor not relevant to this place.

(D) Representativeness
The place represents the type of facilities provided by Silver Chain and demonstrates the rise and growth of an organisation primarily pioneered by women from its early beginnings in child health and maternity nursing, to its expansion into aged care.
The place demonstrates the beginnings, and later growth of private aged care facilities in WA.

(E) Social or Spiritual Value
The place is highly valued by the WA community for its strong association with the work of Silver Chain. From its charitable beginnings, Silver Chain provided a range of nursing services and facilities throughout the state from 1907 and in 2025 remains a prominent organisation throughout Australia.

(F)Aesthetic Value
The place is a good, intact example of a single-storey building with elements of the Federation Queen Anne style (aesthetic value).

(G) Historic Value - person, group or organisation
The place is directly associated with the nursing services provided by Silver Chain Nursing Association.

The place is associated with a number of notable women who were involved in the establishment and growth of the organisation, and the development of the cottage homes include Muriel Chase, Dr Gertrude Mead, and Frances Drew (Nurse Cherry).

(H) Scientific Value - creative or technical achievement
Factor not relevant to this place.

Physical Description

Siting
The building is located on the eastern edge of Lot 101 near the corner of Wright and Lincoln Streets. The lot initially contained the more extensive Wright Street cottage homes complex, which has largely been demolished. The extant 1920 building now forms part of the Aegis Lincoln Park aged care facility, though it is not in use. The wider site has been redeveloped several times with the 1920 building the earliest extant structure from the cottage homes complex. The surrounding buildings date from the 1950s, 1980s, and 1995-2000 and are not included in the curtilage for the place.

Exterior
The place consists of a small single-storey symmetrical brick building, one room in depth with double bay window frontage and central door. The roof is a combination of gabled and hipped terracotta Marseille tiles with end finials. A large central gable faces the street, with smaller gables on each side. To each side of the building there is a centrally located chimney, which extends above roof line. A front verandah, the full width of the façade, faces the street and sits under a continuation of the tiled roof. A central red brick pathway (c.1990s) leads to the front verandah, which is flanked by garden beds.
The façade features elements characteristic of Federation Queen Anne style. The roof overhangs the gable wall, which has been roughcast rendered. The chimneys have also been roughcast rendered with a decorative vertical strip of contrasting brickwork and a single terracotta ‘pot’ on top.

This building was likely the entrance building for the wider complex, with separate cottage homes flanking both sides, all connected via rear timber framed verandahs (demolished 1981). A larger, central rear building (c.1995-2000) abuts the 1920 building. Another building (c.1920s-1950s; demolished 1981) was previously connected to the 1920 building via an extension of the rear gable roof. There are no physical remains of the former connecting building or rear verandah.

History

The Silver Chain Nursing League (Silver Chain) originated as a club run by Muriel Chase through the children’s column in the Western Mail newspaper, under the pseudonym Aunt Mary. Children from across the state subscribed annually for one shilling with the funds used to aid other children in need. Silver Chain officially launched on 3 June 1905. The name represented the shillings contributed by its subscribers, who were called the ‘links’. From this charitable beginning, the organisation shifted its focus to nursing, launching a campaign with Dr Gertrude Mead to bring a district nursing scheme to WA, inspired by the District Trained Nursing Society in South Australia.

In 1907 the first district nurse, Sister Copley, was employed by Silver Chain to provide healthcare to children and mothers in central Perth. Sister Copley was followed by Nurse Cherry (Frances Drew) in 1908, who later became the nursing superintendent. In 1910, the organisation employed a maternity nurse. Another district nurse was added in Fremantle in 1913. By 1919, Silver Chain had district nurses based in Fremantle, Leederville, North Perth, Cottesloe, and its original base in Perth.

The organisation considered opening a residential facility for expectant mothers in 1913. However, the residential concept did not come to fruition until 1916, and by then the focus had shifted to elderly patients (both single and married couples) who required fulltime care and could no longer live independently. While some residential facilities were available for elderly people, such as the Home of Peace in Subiaco, this was often full. The first cottage home, chosen by Dr Mead, was a leased c.1903 building on Wright Street, Highgate. Both Dr Mead and Mrs Chase were involved in the furnishing and maintenance of this home, and providing updates to Silver Chain’s committee. This building is no longer extant.

In 1919, the Government granted Silver Chain additional land on the corner of Wright and Lincoln Streets, Highgate which allowed for an expansion of the existing complex. Five new buildings were officially opened in October 1920 as the first cottage homes built for aged people in WA. The central cottage was named after Dr Mead in recognition of her contribution to the organisation, following her death in 1919. This may have been the current extant building, which is all that remains of this first phase of development. Designed by architect A.B. Rieusset, the complex was described as:
…..a group of five separate buildings with spacious verandahs back and front, back verandahs really forming one continuous promenade, and a convenient means of communication between the matron’s residence and the other cottages. Of these latter there are four each of two rooms.

By 1924, Silver Chain was managing the cottage homes, district nursing services (including nursing in conjunction with the Children’s Hospital), a baby clinic held in the North Perth town hall, and the Bush Nursing Society. The latter was established in 1921 to provide health care in regional areas using funds donated from the British Red Cross. Their first maternity hostel opened in Wyalkatchem the following year under this initiative.

The cottage homes complex further expanded in the 1920s, with new wings opened in August 1925 and July 1926. Nurse Cherry was later employed as the resident nurse to support the increase in patients, and she remained with Silver Chain until her death in 1941. A wing was dedicated to Nurse Cherry in 1946.

Despite financial struggles in the early 1930s, the complex continued to expand in this decade. Additional land was purchased to build another wing in 1937. Named after Muriel Chase, this accommodated four more residents. Various alterations were also undertaken to the existing buildings including new bathrooms and kitchens, and the former dining room was converted into a social area for residents.

The 1940s appear to be when the cottage homes complex became the unofficial Silver Chain headquarters, as most metropolitan district nurses were stationed there during the day. By 1944, there were 40 residents, many married couples. Silver Chain had also amalgamated with the Bush Nursing Society by this time. Wartime shortages meant there was little development of the cottage homes complex during this period, though a new dining room and two additional cottages were built in 1945. The complex also received donations of food, flowers, gifts to residents, entertainment, and assistance with raising funds.

Another home was added to the complex in 1952 which accommodated six additional residents and staff. By 1954, the complex accommodated 38 residents and was always full. Staff included a matron, nursing assistants, a senior relieving nurse, cook, maids, a handy man, and gardener. Another cottage funded by the Claremont Myola Club was built the following year, which increased patient numbers to 40.

A 1955 sewerage plan shows the layout of the cottage home complex at that time. The current extant building likely served as the entrance building to the wider complex, with two separate cottage homes flanking both sides. A larger, central building was connected via an extension of the rear gable roof. The building was also connected to the adjacent cottage homes through rear verandahs that were continuations of the roofs.

In 1955, new Commonwealth legislation allowed Silver Chain to claim a subsidy of 50% off its costs in constructing accommodation. This resulted in additional expansion to the complex in 1956-57, with resident numbers rising to 50, and the provision of a new room for domestic and nursing staff. The Silver Chain headquarters and administrative team moved into a new building within the cottage homes complex in 1957.33 Prior to this subsidy, Silver Chain relied heavily on donations. Provisions were left in wills for Silver Chain in some cases, including from cottage homes residents who had passed away.

The organisation further developed in the 1960s and 1970s, establishing their home help program in 1961 to provide domestic assistance, and they began providing additional education for their nurses. Two hospitals were established, one in Claremont (The Alfred Carson Hospital [1945] named after Silver Chain’s first president) and the other in Hilton (1974, in collaboration with Fremantle Hospital). In 1982, Silver Chain began a joint venture with the Cancer Council for a hospice program and also began employing male care aids for the first time.

The existing buildings at the Wright Street complex were deemed no longer adequate following this increase in activities, and in 1978 it was decided to demolish the majority of the buildings within the complex. The current extant building was retained, with the rear verandah, but the building it was connected to was demolished and replaced with a carpark. New facilities were built adjoining Lincoln Street and opened in December 1981. In 1985, Silver Chain relocated its headquarters to a new location on Sundercombe Street, Osborne Park, but the Wright Street complex was still in use.

The complex saw further development in the 1990s, with a new wing built adjoining the extant 1920 building and a portion of the southern wing demolished by 2000. Silver Chain occupied the complex until 2009, when it was purchased by Aegis Aged Care. The wider lot is Aegis Lincoln Park and offers accommodation for 46 residents.41 The 1920 building is currently (2025) vacant. In 2011, Silverchain Group merged with the South Australian Royal District Nursing Society. The organisation remains active and provides in home aged care services throughout Australia.

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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.