Fresh Air League, Esperance

Values

The place was purpose-built in 1947 as children’s holiday accommodation for the Eastern Goldfields Fresh Air League (1901-c.1980s), a prominent and active organisation concerned with the health, welfare and enjoyment of children living in the Eastern Goldfields.

The place was largely funded through public donation and government grants, representing the social importance of the movement throughout the first half of the twentieth century.

The place was designed by architect Nancy Allen who was the second woman to pass the examination of the Architects Board of Western Australia in 1932, and a notable figure in the Western Australian architecture field.

The location of the place, opposite the Esplanade of Esperance Bay, provides a scenic outlook with uninterrupted views and ideal positioning for its use as holiday accommodation for organisations and budget-travellers to the Esperance Region.

Since its establishment in 1947 the place has continued to provide accommodation for travellers to the Esperance region.

Physical Description

The Fresh Air League is a single-story, timber-framed, weatherboard and fibre cement (possibly asbestos) building located on Goldfields Road opposite Esperance Bay in Esperance. The 1920s vernacular building was repurposed in 1947 and is centrally positioned on the property with a large, expansive area of lawn and gravel vehicular driveway to the front. It is designed in a horse-shoe shape with an extended wing on the south and south-eastern side and has overhanging eaves and long verandahs both at the front and back of the building. A concrete staircase leads to the entrance of the building. The interior of the building has jarrah floorboards throughout, and the dormitory-style rooms have been updated to be more in line with modern, hostel accommodation. A single level detached building is located at the front and side of the main accommodation that serves as the manager’s residence. The area to the rear comprises a small area of undulating bushland.

History

The discovery of gold in Kalgoorlie in 1893 was a major event which saw a sudden increase of population and stimulus to the Western Australian economy as prospectors travelled to the region by the masses to find their fortune. This increase of population at Kalgoorlie and Boulder in such a short period of time meant that town amenities were not substantial in providing for the newly formed community and there was a degree of unsanitary and undesirable living. As described in the Kalgoorlie Miner, ‘Roads were unformed and dusty, housing consisted principally of bag humpies, there was a lack of fresh milk, fruit and vegetables and an extreme shortage of water’.1

An article in the Westralian Worker, published 28 December 1900, stressed that these living conditions were particularly problematic for children and called for action to give Goldfields children the opportunity to travel to the coast to better their health and spirits.2 Staniforth Smith, Mayor of Kalgoorlie and Senator-elect responded by way of another article published in the local newspaper, the Kalgoorlie Miner, on 8 January 1901. Smith had witnessed children taking part in the Federation celebratory parades in Kalgoorlie days earlier and was prompted to think about those children not well or fortunate enough to participate. As a response, he wrote to the Editor and appealed readers to, as suggested, support and assist him in organising to send those children to the coast where he believed that they would benefit from the ‘invigorating sea air [and] bounteous supply of fresh milk, fish, fruit and other luxuries…’ 3 He called for a meeting of those interested with the purpose to appoint an official committee, much like the Fresh Air Leagues throughout England at the time.4

Lord Reginald Brabazon, the 12th Earl of Meath, and his wife, Lady Mary Jane Brabazon, Countess of Meath, were Irish philanthropists and social reformers who were largely remembered for their work in preserving open spaces and gardens, particularly for the welfare of children in nineteenth century England.5 The Brabazon’s believed that fresh air and nature were key in living a healthy life and so founded the Fresh Air League in 1892 as a way to provide these necessities for children living within highly industrial cities where air pollution was a problem.6 The Brabazons were involved in a number of environmental societies and, given their high social status, were in the position to create and promote the Fresh Air League, which spread to Canada, USA and Australia within only a few years.7 Kalgoorlie, a busy mining town, was the first area in Western Australia where the idea of the Fresh Air League formulated.

In Kalgoorlie, a day after Mayor Smith called for a meeting in the newspaper, WA mining unionist S. G. Pearce, responded and wrote to the proprietor and Editor of the Kalgoorlie Miner, Sidney Hocking. Pearce applauded the Mayor for his support of, what he termed, ‘The Children’s Fresh Air Society’, and emphasised the benefits of the scheme publicly.8 Pearce, Smith and Hocking, all became strong supporters of the arrangement, and being prominent figures in Kalgoorlie society at that time, brought with them beneficial publicity and promotion. There was a substantial turn out at the first meeting on 18 January 1901 and it was not long before donations were sufficient for a small number of children to travel to Bunbury before winter. By February 1901, Mayor Smith had organised with the Premier in Perth for discounted train fares for children travelling under the scheme, furthering the cause.9 By October of that year, donations from various community groups and members of the public had sufficiently risen enabling arrangement of the scheme on a more permanent basis.10 The Mayor of Boulder, Mrs. J. A. Hopkins, organised the establishment of a branch of the society in Boulder also.11

The organisation was officially known as the Fresh Air League by January 1902 and the number of children sent to Bunbury had increased from less than 10 to around 31 as the League gained momentum.12 By 1904, the Goldfields Fresh Air League had shown great success and was supported on a State Government level. Local community members volunteered in all aspects including collecting the children, catering for them and ensuring they were organised sufficiently both in the Goldfields and at the holiday destination. This volunteering of work coupled with the steady donations allowed the scheme to be possible as many of the parents of the children sent were unable to contribute financially.

Initially Albany was selected as the League’s destination of choice but after a few years Bunbury proved more desirable given its warmer waters and climate. By 1905, the League was incorporated as a business and a government grant was secured by the League to purchase a permanent property in Bunbury where they built a house in 1911.13 Whilst the League still sent children to Albany and Esperance, the headquarters at Bunbury were the predominant destination of choice.14

Although funds dwindled, the work of the League continued throughout World War I and the Great Depression. The only year in that period that no trips were made was 1932, however the program recommenced after Goldfields resident William Tookey bequeathed funds to the League.15 By 1942, the home in Bunbury was in a dilapidated state and required serious repair works before children were able to be sent there again. At this point, 10,930 Goldfields children over a period of 41 years had been sent to the seaside to enjoy a holiday as part of the Fresh Air League program, so there was cause to continue.16 Initial plans to repair the home took longer than expected and so, by June 1944 the League thought it suitable to cut their losses at Bunbury and instead erect a suitable home at Esperance when they were able to after the War.17

The land chosen for the Fresh Air League in Esperance is of significance to the Njunga Noongar people who were the first to inhabit the area and who continue to hold strong cultural connection with the place.18 The Njunga people’s first interaction with non-Aboriginal people was with whaler and sealer companies during the early to mid-19th Century before the first colonial setters began farming in the region in the 1860s.19 This interaction significantly disrupted the lives of the Njunga people who were forced to share their land and succumb to introduced cultural practices. From as early as the 1850s up to 30% of the whaling industry in the South Coast of Western Australia was made up of Aboriginal workers.20 Njunga workers were also employed early on in the agricultural industry, particularly dairy farming, which became a prominent industry in Esperance.

It was a local Esperance dairy farmer Elsie (Effie) Turner who sold her land to the Fresh Air League for £46 to be used for the new children’s home.21 The location of the land, directly across from the clear, crystal waters of Esperance Bay, was fitting for the use of the place as a seaside holiday resort. After six years of suspended activities, the new Esperance Fresh Air League Children’s Home was officially opened by Lieutenant-Governor, Sir James Mitchell on 18 January 1948, the day that the initial meeting of the league had been held 47 years earlier.22

The horse-shoe shaped structure with extended wings was designed by Miss Nancy Allen of the architect firm, W.G. Bennett and Associates, who was the second woman to pass the examination of the Royal Institute of Architects in Western Australia and had recently became a partner of Bennett’s firm.23 It was her first project as a senior partner in the firm and was an important step in her career, travelling between Kalgoorlie to Esperance.24 Allen’s design needed to incorporate former 1920s R.A.A.F Barracks buildings from Boulder that were purchased by the League to be repurposed for the new home.25 At the time the home was designed it was claimed to be ‘one of the best and most up to date of its kind in the State… [able to] accommodate 100 children comfortably’.26 The entire project was funded through public donations, government grants and the Lotteries Commission and its presence in Esperance generated interest and work opportunities for local builders.27

When the home was not in use by the Fresh Air League, organisations such as the Scouts and National Fitness League stayed at the venue for camps and activities, as the Fresh Air League wanted the home to be used to the fullest extent for a variety of welfare groups.28 By 1955, those using the Home also included Goldfields pensioners who stayed there on vacation.29 In 1986, a Crown Grant in Trust 1721/66 was issued by the State to Youth Hostels Association of Western Australia Incorporated (YHA Ltd) after the Fresh Air League donated the land, continuing its original use as accommodation for young people.30 At the time of donation it was expected that in years to come the hostel facility would be redeveloped as funds became available, but while some renovations occurred over the years no major development works occurred. The hostel was initially named Blue Waters Lodge YHA before becoming Esperance YHA c. 2016.

At the beginning of 2020 the YHA Hostel was permanently closed, however was temporarily opened in May amidst the Coronavirus pandemic for stranded tourists to have a place to stay.31 It is likely the Eastern Goldfields Fresh Air League slowly disbanded, becoming a cancelled association by 20 February 2006 as gazetted.32

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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.