The Pensioner Guard cottage and residence at 1 Surrey Street in Bassendean will soon be renovated into a new child health facility.
Camera IconThe Pensioner Guard cottage and residence at 1 Surrey Street in Bassendean will soon be renovated into a new child health facility. Credit: Supplied/David Baylis www.communitypix.com.au d490378

Bassendean: Heritage-listed Pensioner Guard cottage will be developed into child health clinic

Kristie LimEastern Reporter

BASSENDEAN’S child health clinic will relocate to the historic Pensioner Guard cottage and residence, with building works set to start in August.

The heritage-listed site, located at 1 Surrey Street, was built in 1856 or early 1857 by convicts for Pensioner Guard John Law Davis.

Volunteers from the Bassendean Historical Society currently open the cottage for viewing on the last Sunday of each month.

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The council’s decision follows years of calls from the community and now-councillor Sarah Quinton to build a new clinic as the existing clinic on James Street is no longer fit for purpose.

Mayor Renee McLennan said the tender was intended to be advertised in mid-2019 once the State Government Office and the planning department approved the development.

“We are excited at the opportunity this project presents to honour our heritage and to bring the Town’s past and future together as the historic Pensioner Guard cottage and residence are renovated allowing us to deliver a much-needed new child health facility for our community,” she said.

“Providing improved services for our youngest members of our community and their families has been a priority for the Town and it is fabulous to see this being delivered at the 1 Surrey Street site with the assistance of a Lotterywest grant.”

Cr McLennan said the existing clinic was “well past its used-by-date”.

“With increasing numbers of babies being born in our Town each year it’s important that we provide facilities that meet the needs of the youngest members of our community and their families.”

The development is expected to be completed at the end of 2019.