Since 1872, not-for-profit organisation The Cottage Homes has provided safe, secure and affordable rental accommodation for older South Australians individuals to live independently.
Founded when South Australia was just 36 years old, we are now one of South Australia’s oldest registered charities.
By 1872, many young men and women who had migrated to South Australia from England were now elderly men and women no longer able to earn a living and dependent on their friends and relatives for help. There was very little government assistance for them and in 1851 the Destitute Asylum was established in the former military barracks off Kintore Ave (now part of the Migration Museum) to provide accommodation for the aged poor, chronically sick and pregnant girls.
By the 1870s when the Cottage Homes story begins, the Asylum was usually full. Providing alternate and better accommodation fell to charitable organisations.
Although 1872 has been accepted as the date of the beginning of the movement to set up Cottage Homes, the first committee meeting took place on September 1st, 1871, at the Christ Church Parsonage in North Adelaide, where it was decided to launch an appeal for subscriptions to the project.
At the initial meeting in 1871, attendees each undertook to deliver twenty circulars to likely subscribers. These early campaigns resulted in subscriptions amounting to 35 pound, 17 shillings and 6 pence.
In 1891, a bequest from the estate of Ludwig Vosz allowed for the erection of 10 homes at Glenelg. After arriving in Australia in 1846, German painter, glazier andpaperhanger Ludwig grew one of the largest businesses in the colonies and eventually became Clarkson’s Glass located on Rundle Street.
The foundation stone at the first home in Stanley Street, North Adelaide was laid by the wife of Governor Musgrave in October 1873.
Since that first home in 1873, the wife or husband/partner of governors have been patrons of The Cottage Homes. Over the history of the organisation, we have been privileged to have the support of generous governors and their spouses/partners with our current patron being Her Excellency Frances Adamson and her husband, Mr Rod Bunten.
Due to a lack of forthcoming state or federal funding from the outset, the support of very generous individuals and families (including some of Adelaide’s still well-known families) donating funds to build homes or rows of cottages has been crucial.
The Andrews family was the first to donate ‘Donor or Memorial’ cottages, Sir Henry Ayers donated the west wing facing Kingston “Lady Ayers House”, the Coglin family donated land for 6 cottages at Brompton. The Finlayson family gave land for Hill Street, Mitcham. The Richman family from Wallaroo donated the land and cost of building Prospect, the Gurr family gave 8 cottages for Kilkenny, the Duncan family bequeathed land for Prescott St Rose Park, the Verco family provided land at Parkside and the Mortlocks donated cottages at Parkside.
Over time, the support of private companies and institutions has also played an important role in managing the financial sustainability of Cottage Homes – organisations such as Adelaide Brighton Cement, Myer, David Jones, Commonwealth Bank and Wilderness School, which for several decades from the 1800s contributed to a ‘firewood fund” for the residents. Executor Trustees handling estates have also supported the ongoing costs as have annual donations of residents.
In 2020, a formal governance structure was introduced with the establishment of the first Cottage Homes Board. Again, members serve in a voluntary capacity.
The Board then made the important decision to recruit its inaugural Executive Officer, with Ben Sarre appointed to the role.
“The Cottage Homes is a remarkable organisation” Ben said at the time of his appointment. “Housing vulnerable older South Australians for 150 years, entirely through the efforts of volunteers, is incredible. We now look to the future, and our role in affordably housing the senior members of our community to live independently.”
Ben is passionate about ensuring the older members of our community are adequately cared for and believes access to suitable housing is a key aspect of well-being.
“Housing is a basic human right, and we owe it to the older members of our community to ensure they are safely housed” he said. “South Australians living on the Age Pension, who don’t own their home and have limited support networks, face rising rents and the risk of homelessness. We are here for them.”
From very humble beginnings, The Cottage Homes now offers more than 130 men and women living on the pension access to safe and affordable housing – enabling them to live independently in a community setting.
There are now 7 Cottage Homes sites throughout Adelaide, with further growth being planned. Each location continues to provide a welcoming community where residents feel valued and a place to call home for people who might otherwise be homeless.
A firm foundation established over a long and proud 150-year history has positioned us to respond to changing, future housing needs of older South Australians into the future – thanks to the ongoing and generous support of our contributors and volunteers.