Infant Health Centre

Statement of Significance

The site of the Infant Health Centre (fmr) has cultural heritage significance for the following reasons:

• The place has historic and social heritage value as it reflects a period when child development became a significant issue for the WA Health Department and for the important role the Centre played in reassuring new parents about their children's well being; and

• The place has social value during 1998 when the Centre was also used as a Toy Library. This was a local community effort to provide a broad selection of educational and fun toys to enhance the development of children.

Physical Description

In 2020 the site is vacant with some mature tree plantings to the street boundaries.

There are no remnants of the former building.

History

Child Health Care became a concern to the WA Government in the early 1900s when the infant mortality rate was high. To solve the problem, nurses were appointed in 1913 to visit homes, follow up children with 'detected abnormalities' and to direct new mothers in the care of their children and themselves.

A more formal Infant Welfare Service (Motto: "keep well babies well") was established in 1921-22. However, specialised Infant Health training for nurses was not available in WA until 1927/28. The number of infant health centres rapidly increased during 1946-1950.

The Carlisle Child Health Centre was built under a government assisted programme by the City of Perth. The nurse's salary was paid by the Government Health Service. The introduction of Child Health Care to the Carlisle and Lathlain districts was a reassurance to new mothers who sought help for their babies.

In the 90s the Carlisle Child Health Centre continued to be run as a combined effort by the Bentley Health Service (State Government) and the Town of Victoria Park. The State Government provided a nurse to run both the Carlisle and Lathlain Centres. The nurse had three certificates, in General Nursing, Midwifery and Child Health. The Town of Victoria Park maintained the Clinic building during this time. The Centre also ran as a toy library during this time.

In June 2019 the building was demolished and in March 2020 the site remains vacant.

The Town of Victoria Park 2000 Municipal Heritage Inventory place record form for the former Health Centre provided the following description of the building:

The Carlisle Child Centre design is based on a utilitarian design repeated many times throughout the Perth metropolitan area. The walls are red brick and the roof is tiled.

Integrity/Authenticity

INTEGRITY: Uncompromised - in original state

Condition

Sound

Uses

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.