Lady Smith Lodge...A Home For Young Women (1897). Part One.
This post is one of three posts about the Lady Smith Lodge, a home that was established for young women in the early years of the colony.
The first post is about an article that outlines the history of Lady Smith Lodge, the donations made, a background of some of the women who resided there, the routine and obligations provided by the Matron Sister Lizzie. The article was edited for copyright reasons.
The second post is about some of the women who stayed there over the years from letters and opinions published in the local newspapers. The letters highlight some of the issues women who worked to provide themselves with a living faced in the early years of the colony and were associated with Lady Smith Lodge. In 1898 a fire broke out at 5 am in the morning and the building was bravely saved by the women who lived there.
The third post is about the heroism of a young woman in 1898 after a fire broke out at the Lady Smith Lodge at 5 am in the morning who saved the women's lives who lived there and the building.
In 1897 the Western Australian community recognised that there was a need for suitable accommodation for young women coming to Perth for employment and for those in domestic service seeking a break before moving on to their next position.
A wide range of community members met at Government House to consider what should be done. It was proposed that a home should be established for respectable women and be "undenominational." A committee was formed, money raised and goods donated and a house was leased in St Georges Terrace to accommodate 22 women. The house opened on March 8, 1987. In the first six months approximately 160 women passed through who were already in Perth and from England, Brisbane, Queensland, Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide.
In September, 1897 an article was published in the Western Mail about the history of and the first 6 months of operation of Lady Smith Lodge.
"...Those, in seeking accommodation, have been directed to the lodge. Many of these have been quite young girls, who have left home for the first time to earn their living, and because So many come who have someone else dependent on them a sick mother or sister, sometimes children. Reverse of some kind has brought the larger proportion.
We have almost every occupation that a woman can undertake represented in the lodge-dressmakers, tailoresses, clerks, housekeepers, governesses, nurses, cooks, housemaids, parlourmaids, etc. things were not so prosperous in their own colonies they were obliged to come here.
A goal many have been ladies in middle life, well educated, who have had comfortable homes of their own, and who, like many others during the time of adversity in the other colonies, have lost all, and have come here to a strange land to begin life over again and try and earn their bread have been so thankful that the lodge could be of service to these. .." (Western Mail, 17 September, 1897).
By 1901 Lady Smith Lodge which had relocated to Hay Street, West Perth and then eventually closed with the funds and goods transferred to the Home of Peace for the Dying and Incurable in Subiaco on the condition that a ward for males be opened and named the Lady Smith Lodge and the female ward be named in honour of Lady Onslow in recognition of her contributions (Register of Heritage Places Assessment Document by The Heritage Council of Western Australia 2004).
The photograph of the Home of Peace in Subiaco in 1901 is from the Royal Historical Society of Western Australia. No copyright infringement intended.
The article is from Trove, the database for the National Library of Australia. No copyright infringement intended. The article has been edited for copyright reasons.
Western Mail, 17 September 1897.
LADY SMITH'S LODGE.
THE PRESIDENT'S REPORT.
"The Lady Smith Lodge" was opened in March last to provide a home for young women who were unable to obtain suitable accommodation in Perth. Young women coming to Perth for employment found it almost impossible to get respectable lodgings, and servant girls and others who needed a rest and change before taking another situation had nowhere suitable, to go. It was to meet these cases and also to provide for young women engaged in business houses, who had no friends in town and could not get anywhere to live, that was in any sense a home, that the lodge was founded.
In November last a few ladies, namely, Lady Onslow, the late Lady Shenton, Mrs. Hensman, Mrs. Lefroy, Mrs. St. Leger, and Miss Lee-Steere, met at Government House to consider what should be done. It was decided to call a public meeting, which was held in Government House Ball Room on December 15, and over which Sir Alexander Onslow presided. The attendance was both large and representative, and on the proposal of Mr. Justice Stone it was unanimously decided to establish at once a home for respectable women, and that the home was, above all things, to be purely "undenominational." A committee, consisting of Lady Smith, Lady Onslow, Lady Shenton, Mrs. Hensman, Mrs. G. Cowan, Mrs. Lefroy, Mrs. Walton, Mr. A. R. Richardson, Mr. F. C. Faulkner, M.A., and Mr. E. Diniant, was appointed te carry out the decision of the meeting.
As quickly as possible and after much difficult, a commodious house was secured and leased for one year. An appeal was also made to the citizens for the necessary funds to furnish and carry on the Lodge. The response was both prompt and generous, and of the sum of 6531 pounds raised by voluntary effort during the six months. In addition to the gifts in money, many of the businesses in the city gave articles of furniture. After reading Lady Smith's report, His Excellency called upon Sister Lizzie, who is in charge of the lodge, for her report upon the work of the institution for the half-year, the text of which was as follows :
THE MAISON'S REPORT
The President in their report this afternoon has given the reasons why the Lady Smith Lodge was started; also, there are those here today who were present at the meeting held in this room in December last, when the need of such a home was stated. It was then decided to take a house and begin the work. After seeking in every direction, we found the only one suitable and available the one we now occupy. Other and more expensive houses we could only have got on a three years lease, but the present one we were able to take for one year. In this house we found we could accommodate 22 people.
We went into the house on Monday, March 8, and by the end of the month we were quite full, and with the exception of about three weeks, we have been full ever since. The formal opening took place on March 31, when His Excellency presided, and a large number of friends were present to wish the new undertaking success. Since then up to the present time exactly 160 have passed through the lodge. Some months we have had as many as 60 passing through. Out of the total number something like 20 had been in Perth for some time and had boarded elsewhere. The remaining are all strangers, who have come from England, Brisbane, Queensland, Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide.
These, in seeking accommodation, have been directed to the lodge. Many of these have been quite young girls, who have left home for the first time to earn their living, and because things were not so prosperous in their own colonies they were obliged to come here. A goal many have been to be ladies in middle life, well educated, who have had comfortable homes of their own, and who, like many others during the time of adversity in the other colonies, have lost all, and have come here to a strange land to begin life over again and try and earn their bread I have been so thankful that the lodge could be of service to these. So many come who have someone else dependent on them a sick mother or sister, sometimes children. Reverse of some kind has brought the larger proportion. We have almost every occupation that a woman can undertake represented in the lodge-dressmakers, tailoresses, clerks, housekeepers, governesses, nurses, cooks, housemaids, parlourmaids, etc.
We have had a good many girls who have been in situations in Perth, and who have had to leave them on account of bad health. These we have had great pleasure in nursing and sending out strong and well. I may say, with such a large household we nearly always have some one ill. This of course takes up a good deal of our time, and is often no small anxiety, but it is one of the ways in "which the lodge is so useful, and we are very thankful" that up to the present we have had no serious case of fever, or anything of that kind.
Having cited some typical cases, Sister Lizzie proceeded:-" Very many have been the expressions of gratitude from those who have come and gone. So many have said how homelike they have found it. Those who reside in the lodge pay from 15s. to £1 per week. When we began we made the charge £1 to everyone, and hoped to have cleared expenses entirely after the first few months. But we soon found many who applied could not pay this some did not earn it, and so many came who had little or nothing to begin with, we never refuse admission to anyone simply because they cannot pay. Many have paid their debt to the lodge after they have earned it. If we had had a larger house we could often hare taken in more.
As it is we often make up a bed in the sitting room. We never, if possible, refuse a suitable applicant. Here let me say how glad I have been to sympathise with advise many strangers who for the time are stranded, not knowing which way to turn. We keep very regular hours at the lodge. Some may be interested to know just what these hours are-bell rings first at 7.15, breakfast at 7.45 directly after those who care to do so come into the sitting-room for morning prayer ; we sing a hymn, read a few verses, and have prayer.
Every-one is perfectly free to do as they please about coming to this. We dine at 1.15; tea 6.16. These hours suit most of those in the lodge. We put lights out in the sitting room and hall at 10. Those who wish to be out later simply mention the fact. As a rule we are all in bed by ll. The housekeeping is managed as economically as possible. All the accounts have been gone into most carefully, and the result has been very satisfactory. A good deal of planning and thought is required in arranging for so large a household. The house is large and rather difficult to keep clean. A way of keeping clean is getting the girls in the lodge to assist.
Everybody makes her own bed, of course, and besides this, those who are "waiting for situations often give a little help in the house, but this help we cannot depend upon, as those who have regular occupations generally work from 8.30 often till quite late at night, just leaving off for meals. Then, as I have said before, we so often have those who are suffering from over-work and needing rest.
I would like to take this opportunity of thanking all those friends who have helped the lodge with gifts of any kind... For all these kind gifts we are most grateful, and I might add how glad we should be of books, magazines and games. I would to say how very thankful I am for the spirit that has prevailed in the household. Some people might think that so many women living together must quarrel, but this has not been so in the Lady Smith Lodge.
Peace and harmony has reigned, and there has been such a kindly feeling one towards another we have seen it again and again when anyone has been ill, I trust as long as the lodge stands this spirit may continue. The work has given me the greatest pleasure and delight, although at times the strain of having so many to think of and provide for, to carve at meal times, little anxieties about the younger girls if they are out late, and to see the numberless people who call to .enquire about one thing and another , the constant strain of all this leaves ones little or no leisure, but I am thankful for the "something attempted, something done."
Most of those now in the lodge and those who have stayed there, but for it would have been " hatching" living in ones room, working hard, not getting proper rest or food, and laying the foundation for fever and general ill-health. I shall be glad if any ladies or gentlemen will call at any time and see the lodge, and ask any questions they please with regard to it." In concluding her report Sister Lizzie gave some extracts from some of the letters she had received, showing how the lodge had been of service to some of those who had stayed has it..."
