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The Old Men's Home
The Old Men's Home in Fremantle was in South Terrace, in what was first built as the Barracks for the Enrolled Pensioners. It was an Immigrants Hostel in 1886 (Library) and an Old Men's Home certainly c. 1905-06, and probably for longer, but not later than when it became the Base Hospital in 1914.
Campbell: The pensioners barracks served on as an old men's home, an immigrants hostel, and then a military hospital through the first world war years of 1914-1918. ... The building has gone, but the retaining wall to South Terrace remains in front of a 1970s elderly peoples’ centre. (Campbell 2017: 18; the last sentence refers to the Stan Reilly Centre, demolished in 2018 to make way for a carpark in 2021, but soon to be a new police station.)
The Base Hospital, South Terrace
Henry McIlwaine was the superintendent c. 1905-06. According to one source (the Sunday Press), his wife was in charge of the Old Women's Home at the Asylum. Another has her matron of the Old Men's Home.
This article, from the West Australian, Monday 5 March 1906, p. 5, gives that address.
DROWNING CASE AT FREMANTLE
SUPPOSED SUICIDE OF AN ECCENTRIC.
A drowing case, in which the circumstances are somewhat remarkable, occurred at Fremantle on Saturday night. The victim was Albert Tuppenny, an engineer, 36 years old.
On February 28 Tuppenny was arrested at Fremantle on a charge of being of unsound mind, and was sent to the Fremantle Public Hospital for treatment. He was allowed to leave that institution, as cured, at noon on Saturday, and was taken before Mr. R. Fairbairn, R.M., and discharged from custody, the Magistrate advising him to recuperate in the Old Men's Home for a week. The man was then taken to the Old Men's Home in South terrace. The superintendent, Mr. H. McIlwaine, noticed something peculiar in Tuppenny's manner before he had heard any particulars concerning him, but he states that the man was all right until half-past 6 in the evening, when he expressed a desire to see a man at the Oddfellows' Hotel, who, he said, owed him money, and Mr. Mcllwaine told him that no inmates were allowed out of the home after 6 o'clock, and advised him to go to bed. An hour later Tuppenny again called at the superintendent's office, and asked Mr McIlwaine if he could detect any thing objectionable about him. Mr. McIlwaine said, "I don't know what you are talking about," and the man replied that some of the inmates had said he was ill, and could not remain in the home. Mr. Mcllwaine then told him to go to his room, and a little later he was informed that Tuppenny had been trying to climb the fence surrounding the home. Shortly after 8 o'clock he called at Tuppenny's ward, and found him dressed in his own clothes. Tuppenny again asked permission to go out, and was told that he had better go to bed. The man replied that he would walk about the square all night if he were not let out, and Mr. McIlwaine told him he would have to go out of the home altogether, or go to bed. Tuppenny persisted that he would go out, and, having no power to detain him, and fearing that he would try to scale the wall, and probably break his neck, Mr. McIlwaine let him out of the home, and informed tihe police by telephone of what he had done. He says there was nothing alarming in the man's demeanour when he left the institution.
After leaving the home. Tuppenny must have walked direct to the long sea jetty. At 9 o'clock people in the vicinity heard a loud splash, and Edward Wallace rushed to the police station and stated that there was a man in the water. Coxswain Fry, Corporal Sullivan, and W.p.c. Mortimer ran down to the jetty; but, when they arrived, they could see only a hat in the water. The search for the body was continued, without success, for upwards of an hour when W.p.c. Lyons was told to bring a boat round from Victoria Quay. When rowing along the side of the jetty, towards the spot where the man had been seen, Lyons found and recovered the body, which was being carried out to sea.
The remains were identified as Tuppenny's, and removed to the morgue. An inquest was formally opened before Mr. R. Fairbairn, R.M. and a jury yesterday morning, and was adjourned to Thursday next, at half-past 2, after the Coroner had ordered that a postmortem examination should he made. It is generally believed that the deceased, who is said to have been connected with a well-to-do family in England, threw himself off the jetty with the intention of doing away with himself.
This article provides evidence that entertainment for the old men was arranged.
THE FREMANTLE OLD MEN'S HOME.
To the Editor.
Sir,—The inmates of the Old Men's Home, Fremantle, desire to tender to Miss Bird and friends their thanks for the musical treat given to the old men at the home on Wednesday evening, the 8th inst., when a long and varied programme of vocal and instrumental selections were rendered with pleasing effect by the ladies and gentlemen and juvenile members of the party. I desire to join in this expression of gratitude, and hope the performance is only a forerunner of many more.-
Yours, etc.,
H. McILWAINE.
Old Men's Home. Fremantle. March 9.
West Australian, Monday 13 March 1905, p. 2.
The McIlwaine's had at least four daughters among their children, as this article shows.
LEHMANN—McILWAINE.
A correspondent writes:—A very pretty wedding took place at South-terrace, Fre-
mantle, on the 3rd inst., when Miss Lila McIlwaine, fourth daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
Henry McIlwaine, was married to Mr. Benno C. Lehmann, of Stawell, Victoria.
The bride, who was given away by her father, ...
Western Mail, Saturday 24 April 1909, p. 41.
McIlwaine may not have had a good reputation, as some of the old men apparently found it necessary to defend it, as this article suggests.
OLD MEN'S HOME, FREMANTLE.
To the Editor.
Sir,—In your paper of even date a report appears of the prosecution of a late inmate for an assault upon the Master of the Home. The report says that in defence the accused stated he had been harshly treated by the prosecutor. Now this is the point which we, the undersigned beg to contradict; if it is not done it might leave a bad impression, as the Master is ever kind and just in all his dealings with the men, although at times he is subjected to great provocation. The simple fact of so many men being under the management of Mr. McIlwaine, and also the fact that no complaints are made, should speak volumes for his good management and treatment.—Yours, etc.,
GEORGE FAIRWEATHER.
x JOSEPH LANDLE. his mark.
GEO. CHANDLER.
On behalf of the Whole.
Old Men's Home, Fremantle. July 4.
West Australian, Saturday 7 July, p. 2.
The defence was probably in response to this report from the police court published in the West Australian, Wednesday 4 July, p. 5.
Assault.—Louis Pellessier, a Frenchman, was charged with having assaulted Henry McIlwaine. Through an interpreter, Pellessier admitted the assault, but stated that he had been subjected to great provocation. Henry McIlwaine. master of the Old Men's Depot, stated that the defendant, who was an inmate of the depot, came to his office on June 2 and threw a stone at witness. The missile struck the office door, and left its mark on the wood. Pellessier then threw a medicine bottle at witness, and its contents were sprinkled over his clothes. Witness objected to the man being sent back to the home. He believed he was not in his right mind, and there was always a danger he would injure some of the inmates. The accused, who said he had been harshly treated by the prosecutor, and had acted under the influence of excitement, was sentenced to a month's imprisonment.
Sunday Press (Perth, WA : 1902-1903), Sunday 13 September 1903, page 5
This article may have been written by the unknown (to me) editor of the short-lived Sunday Press.
A CHAPTER ON CHARITY.
Our Public Poor.
Despicable Despot of the Old Men's Depot.
Mcllwaine's Monstrous Methods.
CHARITY ! What a number of things are called by that miserable misnomer ! The giving of alms is, in a great percentage of cases, accompanied by such a show of ostentation that it is merely the medium of personal advertisement and aggrandisement. It is the tawdry covering which screens a multitude of hypocrisies. The charity which goeth secretly and blushingly into the slums and by-ways to relieve the sick and needy is something too noble to be set down in words. For that we have nothing but the most ardent reverence. But for that other sample which is placarded on every hoarding, and which fills the personal columns of the newspapers, and which is indulged in purely for these objects, we have but the deepest contempt. That kind of philanthropy, however much it may benefit those for whom it is ostensibly exercised,
Is not the Charity
which a certain grand old Book declares "Covereth a multitude of sins." Before we get down to the real subject-matter of this article let us refer in passing to that institution known as the Perth Government Hospital. A certain amount is voted each year by Parliament for the up-keep of the establishment, the ostensible mission of which is the cure or at least the scientific treatment of patients. If all that we have heard and read of late be true—and we know that it is not entirely untinged by truth—this same hospital is merely a place
Where some People Suffer
for a time before they can get to Karrakatta. Be that as it may, the Government vote should be sufficient for all requirements in connection therewith. And yet the authorities are pleased to call it, and allow it to be so regarded by the public, as a "charitable institution," and many ladies and gentlemen, well-intentioned and charitably-disposed no doubt, inaugurate a "Hospital Saturday" collection. For what purpose ? To swell the Government funds, and thereby lessen the Government vote next year? Verily it would appear so, especially when we consider that the hospital cannot by any means be termed a charitable institution. We have seen too many instances of penniless and friendless sufferers refused admission there to call it by that name. Were the hospital conducted solely out of voluntary contributions, and its destinies entirely controlled by the subscribers, and were the pauper given the same treatment as the man of money, the matter would assume a totally different aspect, and those who worked so hard to commandeer the sinews of war would have the satisfaction of- feeling that they were indeed
Working in a Worthy Cause,
and would be entitled to every reward "for their labors—from that which comes of a charitable action, down even to the personal advertisement. Those who did work on this occasion are certainly deserving of great praise, for in most cases they assisted under personal sacrifice and inconvenience. Still they have not made the Perth Hospital a "charitable" institution. This brings us to those other establishments maintained by the Government in the sacred cause of charity. Personally, the individual members of the Government cannot complain that they have been detected—or, if they have been found out, the secret has been well kept—in any act of charity towards others than themselves. As a body controlling the affairs of this State, their "charitable" institutions bear ample proof that the Ministry possess a degrading lack of the greatest of all virtues. What are those alleged "homes" for the old and destitute ? Merely places, the unfortunate inmates of which are daily and hourly made aware that they are not only paupers, but that they are looked upon as loathsome animals whose carcases are of infinitely less value, from
A Government Point of View,
than those of the pampered monkeys of the Zoo. Here again the term "charitable" is grossly misapplied; and even were it not so, the appellation would still be objectionable, for we think it will be agreed that when a person has the misfortune to seek refuge in these "homes" he should not have it continuously dinned into his ears that he is living upon charity. For does not the State look upon such a claim as being perfectly within his rights ? Why, then, this absurd fiction of charity, charity, charity ? —especially where charity is non est ? Let us give a few examples. James Mackay is an old man of 51 winters, and is partially blind. He lives, or rather exists, in the vicinity of Fremantle, and, having no regular employment and no settled home, he has had more than his fair share of the inclement weather prevailing on the coast of late. On Saturday week he found his wealth reduced to a single threepenny piece, with no prospect of earning another until the following Monday, and even this was contingent on climatic conditions, as he was promised a small job for that morning weather permitting. In
This Unenviable Predicament,
he sought out Mr. Hitchens, the gentleman in charge of the Government Labor Bureau, who very kindly gave him an order for temporary admission to the Old Men's Depot at Fremantle. At 11.30 on Saturday morning he handed the order of admission to one McIlwaine, the autocrat in charge of that institution. Having read the memorandum, this charitable charlatan tossed it aside, and inquired by what right Mr Hitchens had presumed to send any one into his august presence ? He had no rations, and even if he had he would please himself what he did with them, in spite of the presumption of the Labor Bureau officer! After regaling Mackay with more or less—principally more—insulting language for the space of ten minutes, he walked into his private apartments, saying that he would communicate with Mr. Longmore by telephone. At 3.30 p.m. Mackay again presented himself before the mean and miserable Mcllwaine, when the following interesting dialogue took place. "Well, what do you want?" "I came to learn the result of your communication with Mr. Longmore." " Mr. Longmore says
I can Please Myself
what I do. I can either admit you or not, as I think proper. - However, as I know you badly want to gorge yourself with tucker at the expense of the old men, you can stay here until after breakfast on Monday morning." "I cannot wait until after breakfast on Monday. I want to leave at 6 o'clock, as I have arranged to meet Mr. Holmes, of the W.A. Bank, at his home at Cottesloe at 7.30 that morning. Therefore, I can't stay for breakfast." " I'm not going to get out of bed at 6 o'clock to open the gate for you. You'll go ont when I choose to let you out. You'd better not stay at all. You have no appointment in Cottesloe. You only want a gorge, and yon won't get it. The last time you were here you ate as much as any four men." Mackay produced his only threepenny piece, and explained to Mcllwaine that that was all he had to tide him over till Monday. He pleaded to be allowed to stay, with permission to leave early on Monday morning, so that he might procure some temporary employment. McIlwaine advised him to go and buy a beer with the diminutive coin, and then turning to Gaynor, the warder, he said : "Let him stay here until Monday. Let him wear his own clothes. Don't let him inside. Give him two blankets and let him
Sleep on the Floor
in that shed at the bottom of the yard ! He wants no bed, but a gorge." Turning to the old man with an air which suggested that he was doing him the greatest possible kindness out of the fullness of his heart and as a personal favor, he said to the holder of a Government order which entitled him to the best the institution could supply: "Go and stay down there at tbe bottom of the yard. You'll get two blankets, and I'll send you down what food I think proper." We wonder, knowing what a kindly soul Mr. Longmore is, what he will think when he learns that this old man was compelled to walk the streets of Fremantle for two consecutive days and nights by reason of his own official order being entirely disregarded by
The Unspeakable Underling
at Fremantle ? We hare made some inquiries into the condition of things prevailing at the Old Men's Home under Mcllwaine's management, with most astonishingly unpleasant results. Some of the inmates are wretchedly clad and shivering with cold. All through the winter there have been no fires in the dormitories. A tall man may be seen wearing a suit several sizes too small that won't button across; while a diminutive inmate is struggling under a rig-out which would fit a giant. An inmate, on entering, has to take whatever clothes first come to the hand of Mcllwaine, quite regardless of whether they will fit or are weather-proof. The consequence is that all but the favored few look horrible and disgraceful caricatures and scare-crows. It frequently happens that an old man, out on pass for the day, returns a bit shaky on his legs, the result of mistaken kindness on the part of people met with outside. This lapse is immediately reported to Mcllwaine by his spying sentinel at the gate. The following morning the tottering octogenarian is duly court-martialled and has his tobacco stopped for a month (what greater punishment for an old smoker ?), and is orderad to be
Confined to Barracks
during that period. Rather than undergo this the old man will prefer to throw himself on the mercy of the outside world, and promptly applies for his discharge, which is just as promptly given him. Perhaps that same night the unfortunate wreck will be found by the police sleeping, or trying to sleep, in a public place. The following morning the despot of tbe depôt is present in court. "He has every comfort (!), your Worship, at the home, but he won't stay!" On this assurance the harmless old victim is treated as a common criminal and sentenced to six weeks' imprisonment. As it costs 9s. 9d. a week to imprison him in the home, and over £1 to keep him in gaol, the Government loses on the deal. But bad as tbe Fremantle prison has been proved to be, he will be more charitably tended in the latter place than in the home. A very old inmate is Alexander Menzies, an ex-soldier who was sentenced to transportation by some military martinet daring the Indian Mutiny for some trifling offence. He regularly attends a neighboring church in which
The pious McIlwaine
is an office-bearer (great Scott!) For some unknown reason, the worthy kirk-elder exhibits a holy hatred, towards Menzies, and he is compelled to wear the most threadbare garments Sundays and weekdays alike. He had been wearing an apology lor a hat for three years, and the on)y way he could get it replaced was by going to Perth and laying the matter before Mr. Longmore. This in face of the fact that McIlwaine can provide a beautiful blue serge suit for his own particular pets, who keep him posted with the latest information, false and otherwise. He is not always grateful for personal services, however, as instance the following. There is in the home an old gentleman named Dr. Brown, who possesses very high qualifications. He was a surgeon in tbe Franco-Prussian war, and worked side by side with Dr. Charles Ryan, of Melbourne, the hero of Plevna. Although unable now to follow his profession, he still retains his knowledge, and when Mcllwaine's charitable actions
Give him a "Liver"
the doctor's honorary services are much in demand. The doctor was recently permitted to go out for a walk, and meeting with an acquaintance the latter got him to prescribe for some ailment, for which service his friend treated him to several draughts of the cup that cheers. The old war-horse was encouraged to relate some of his experiences on the battle-field, with the result that he lengthened his furlough by a few minutes. When he presented himself at the gate he was refused admission, although the weather was such that a dog should not have been driven from shelter. Had not a sympathetic barman come to his rescue he would have been left to the mercy of the elements all night. We cannot understand how McIlwaine manages to keep his methods from the knowledge of Mr Longmore, nor how he succeeded in worming himself into a position he is so successful in disgracing. It appears that he landed here with his wife and 11 children from some remote peat-bog in Ireland about six years ago. His chief possesion, barring his precious wife and progeny, was a discharge from the Royal Horse Marines, in which he had been a drill-sergeant or some similar
Hero of Bloodless Battles.
He immediately besieged the Government offices with the object of obtaining some rosy berth as wardsman in an asylum, gatekeeper on a railway, or any other leafing billet which would bring him in large pay for little work. Doubtless on the strength of his numerous entourage, pity was taken on him. and. he was placed in charge of the battered blue-coated derelicts who were nestling under the charitable wing of the Government. His better-half also received appointment as matron of the Old Women's Home, and if she takes after her husband we can well imagine that the feeble feminine outcasts will undergo their purgatorial probation this side of eternity. This precious pair receive between them from the State an amount equal to £3 per week, and have nothing to pay for quarters, water, fuel or light. The male person, or parasite rather, for some wily purpose of his own, is going to extremes in his desire to cut down expenses. In fact, we believe that this military desperado and hero of "Bleeds that did not make the Hempire" is playing
His own Little Game
at the expense of the comfort of the inmates of the home. Certain it is that he denies them what is allowed by the Government, and does it in such a heartless fashion as redounds to the eternal disgrace of the authorities who keep him in power. It is sincerely to be hoped that the superintendent will no longer be deceived by the cringing, crawling, pious posings of this despicable dragoon of the depôt. In tbe name of that charity (which would now appear to be but the screen behind which our feeble and destitute people are degraded and cheated), it behoves the Government to make a fall and searching inquiry into Mcllwaine's methods and also into the manner of conducting all similar institutions.
References and Links
Trove.
Campbell, Robin McKellar 2010, Building the Fremantle Convict Establishment, PhD, UWA (Faculty of Architecture). Available online to download (not from this site) as a 40MB PDF.
Campbell, R.McK. 2017, Henderson & Coy, privately published in association with the Faculty of Architecture, UWA.
This page incorporates material from Garry Gillard's Freotopia website, that he started in 2014 and the contents of which he donated to Wikimedia Australia in 2024. The content was originally created on 11 January, 2021 and hosted at freotopia.org/buildings/oldmenshome.html (it was last updated on 3 April, 2024), and has been edited since it was imported here (see page history). The donated data is also preserved in the Internet Archive's collection.