Lexbourne House (fmr)

Lexbourne House was built for builder and entrepreneur Robert Law in 1911 to a design by the architectural firm of Cavanagh, Cavanagh & Parry. It remained the Law family home until 1954 when it was sold to the State Government and was converted for use as the Government School of Nursing. A three-storey accommodation block, designed by the Public Works Department, was added in 1960. In 1975, the place became a hostel for intellectually disabled persons operated by Mental Health Services. The property was sold into private ownership in 1990 and is currently used as offices.

The Law family were builders and completed many contracts, including bridges, jetties, and railway lines, including the Perth Mint, the Perth Boys’ School, Boans Emporium, and Perth’s drainage and sewerage system.

By early 1911, construction of a large residence had commenced on Law’s West Perth property, designed by architects Cavanagh, Cavanagh & Parry. The City of Perth Rate Book for 1912 records a house and garden valued at £140 on the property. In 1913, Law purchased additional land at the rear of his property.

Robert Law died in 1947 and Mrs Law continued to live in the house until 1954 when the property was purchased by the State Government for conversion into a training centre for country nurses. At this time, the ground floor comprised a lounge room, smoke room that opened onto a side verandah, living room and kitchen on either side of a wide entry hall, with a recreation room and laundry at the rear. Upstairs comprised bedrooms and bathrooms, with two sleepouts above the side verandah.

In the conversion to nurses’ quarters, very few internal changes were made to the building. The television lounge, office, pool and recreation room, dining room, kitchen, laundry and maids’ dining room was located on the ground floor, while bedrooms (accommodating two to three beds each), office and toilet were located on the upper floor. The existing garage was converted to a maid’s change room and store, while the existing pavilion was converted to offices for the matron and typist.

After a new School of Nursing was constructed on Wellington Street near Royal Perth Hospital in 1973-75, Lexbourne House was passed to Mental Health Services.

Known as Lawton Hostel, the place operated as a hostel for intellectually disabled persons.

As part of the State government’s rationalisation of assets, the property was sold to Tipperary Investments in 1990. At the time, the residence was described as retaining many of its original fittings, ‘as well as polished wood floors, staircases, ornate ceiling and leadlight windows and fireplaces’.

The house currently is in use as offices and remains a fine example of West Perth residence from the early 20th century.