The Fresh Air League was the vision of Irish social reformer and philanthropist, the Earl of Meath, due to his concerns over the conditions suffered by children in the congested cities and polluted mining areas of 19th Century Britain. He proposed setting up groups of volunteers to arrange holiday breaks where the children could be revitalised by breathing fresh country air. Meath’s Fresh Air movement spread to other parts of the world and operated in Sydney in the 1890’s, where young and delicate children benefited from farm-stay holidays in high altitude areas of the Blue Mountains
The Fresh Air League in Western Australia:
In 1901, WA mining unionist Mr S G Pearce, proposed something similar for the children of the WA Goldfields. Concerned about the health of children, he envisaged sending them to the coast during the hottest months of the year, away from their trying living conditions. They lived often in tents or hessian huts, suffering greatly during the oppressive heatwaves and dust storms. He gained support from the Mayor, Miles Stainford Smith, later to be a State Senator. Another strong Goldfields supporter was Mayor Syd Hocking, proprietor of the local newspaper. In 1901 a group called The Goldfields Fresh Air League was formed and began fundraising and negotiations with State Government for a £ for £ subsidy. The Bunbury Council also assisted.
The Children of the Goldfields Fresh Air League in Bunbury (undated).
In 1901 a group of children was sent by train to Bunbury. The eight boys were housed in a little cottage on the town side of Meredith Creek bridge on the Estuary, looked after by Miss Eastman, Mrs Duce, Mrs Tucker and her daughters. Sixteen girls were billeted out with Mrs Tomkinson, Mrs Taylor, Mrs Shaw, Mrs Lou Spencer, Mrs Johnson and Mrs Rigg.
The Fresh Air League concept was widely embraced by the WA public and the scheme expanded quickly. Groups were also sent to other coastal holiday centres in Albany, Geraldton and Esperance. It was proposed that from 1902, groups of selected children would be sent to Bunbury by train under the supervision of a matron and volunteers for two weeks. This was extended to three weeks in 1903 when sixty children at a time were sent. Children whose parents could afford to pay were expected to contribute. The State Government allowed the children to travel by train at a reduced rate as well as permitting the use of two cottages in Bunbury.
The Goldfields Fresh Air League Home in Bunbury – 1922 – Bunbury Historical Society.
Although the Government spent £300 in 1903 extending the cottages, the scheme was so popular that it became obvious that the League needed their own premises in Bunbury. In Bunbury the League acquired a 1/4 acre block of land however, this was considered unsuitable and with he help of the Bunbury Council and the State Government it was replaced with a larger block of 1 3/4 acres of ‘Permanent Lease’ land on the coast near the lighthouse (presently the site of the Lighthouse Inn). £1,300 was needed to construct a large home on the site. A Bunbury group assisted with the fundraising.
Eastern Goldfields Fresh Air League children at Bunbury, 1919
In 1910 the Goldfields Fresh Air League home was opened with panoramic views, by Premier Newton Moore. It was a sprawling weatherboard building with dormitories for boys and girls and accommodation for staff. As well as providing hundreds of Goldfields children a summer seaside holiday in Bunbury each year, the premises was also made available at other time to groups such as the YMCA and children from other country towns.
Eastern Goldfields Fresh Air League Home in Bunbury – Kalgoorlie Western Argus Tuesday 20 August 1912
The building has an interesting history:
1915 – it was inspected by the Army for use as a Military Hospital.
1919 – At the end of WW1 when dozens were dying from a virulent form of Influenza, the Fresh Air League building was commandeered as an Influenza Hospital. The verandahs were widened to accommodate more patients.
1936-1937 – Georgina Beer was Matron at the Hostel from 1936 to 1947, living with her family in their own section of the building. Her efforts were appreciated by the CWA Holiday Camp South West Division, who were associated with the building in later years.
1948- The Government purchased the building and renovated it at a cost of £5000 in order to set up a High School Hostel for boys, naming it Craig’s House. It could accommodate up to 58 boys and 2 housemasters. It finally closed its doors in 1963 when the Government erected another building near the High School.
1972– The valuable original land was purchased by Roman Korzyrski who built the Lighthouse Inn on the site.
Hundreds of people have long lasting memories of their holidays by the sea and are grateful to the dozens of volunteers who ensured their time was happy and memorable.
The Opening of the Esperance Building – Kalgoorlie Miner 17 January 1948, page 1
John Terrell sent me the following snippet of verse, does anyone know the full poem.
Down at the F.A.L. three miles away
They fed us bread and jam, three times a day
Probably there were more lines to the verse, words which have probably been lost with the passage of time.
The three miles was in reference to the location of the Fresh Air League, which was based at Castletown, about three miles east from the centre of Esperance.
References:
The Skeleton Magazine Sep 2010
TROVE
Bunbury ‘I Remember When’ book 4.
Moya Sharp
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