Wanslea Children’s Home/Wanslea Hostel (Wanslea)

Wanslea started out as an orphanage for very young children in Cottesloe in 1905 by the Independent Order of Odd-fellows. The institution has remained under private management since its establishment and at first only took children/orphans through private agreement but over the years the Home has received funds from the state government of Western Australia leading to a change in its role and in its acceptance of other types of neglected/disadvantaged children. By the late 1960s, the institution’s accommodation policy changed in a more expanded form when it accepted seven state wards in 1967 and by 1982, 24 school-age children and up to 10 pre-schoolers would also be accommodated for. In 1985, the Home’s accommodation policy and style further changed, where it went from an orphanage-style accommodation to cottage care and the introduction of foster care with the opening of residential cottages in the Perth suburb of Mosman Park. In 2003, the Home was described as providing emergency foster care placements for up to 34 children aged between 0 and 12 years old.

It has been reported online by former residents of Wanslea, that the institution was at times a house of horrors with sexual and physical abuse occurring on a regular basis. It is reported also that a lot of the abuse occurred in the bathing facilities at the Home, which was carefully preserved in 2015 by the National Trust of Western Australia. One former resident recalls being called a ‘filthy child’ by the matron of the Home and being physically and violently forced to take a bath with her head being held under water by the matron for a substantial period of time. Furthermore, it is reported that abuse also occurred between the children, where older children would sexually and physically abused the younger ones.

Moody Law is currently representing a client who has made allegations of being sexually and psychically abused by the matron of the Home when she was placed at Wanslea in the late 1960s as a ward of the State of Western Australia.

We invite former victims and other witnesses to tell us confidentially what information they may have, and we will explain what options are available to help with these cases.

Call us or complete the confidential enquiry form below.