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Len

I received an e-mail from a former resident of Fairy Meadow Hostel and she tells me that, when her family arrived in Australia back in 1952 nearly all the families that had sailed over on the same boat as her family, nearly all had been accommodated at Fairy Meadow Hostel. Then shortly after, some of the families had been moved to what was referred to as the �Commonwealth Cottages� at Unanderra.

Does anyone know where the Commonwealth Cottages were situated?
Perhaps they were in fact, Unanderra Hostel?

Question

Arthur Radford · Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2010 7:20 am Post subject:

The Commonweath cottages were in a housing estate at the southern end of Unanderra. It was situated between two railway gates, the railway divided at Unanderra station one line going south and the other heading up the mountain to the Southern highlands. The cottages were imported in a kit form from somewhere in Europe. Made of softwood clad with vertical boards they were a bit sub standard. My in laws were alocated one in Orana Pde. It was called Lindsay St then. Story goes that the kits were rejected by the WA government and where then sent to NSW. Some were also erected at Dapto. They were almost all occupied by Pommie immigrants in the early 1950's.

Arthur Radford · Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2010 8:57 am Post subject:

My wife tells me the original street name was "First Avenue" - there was First, Second & Third Avenues in the estate. First Avenue later became Lindsay Ave, then Orana Pde. Second Ave is now Thornbury Ave with Hessel Ave a very short col-de-sac off it & Third Ave is now Stratford Road. We're not really sure when the name changes occured. If you go to 'Google' - Maps - insert Orana Pde, Unanderra you will see on 'street view' what the houses are like. Many have only changed slightly. The rent was something like 19 pounds per month in the 50's I believe. A lot of the houses were eventually purchased by the original tenants.

Len · Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2010 11:23 pm Post subject:

Many thank Arthur for clearing that up and for the info about the cottages. I�ve had a look using Google earth �as you�ve suggested� and I see that it�s no where near the old Hostel site at Five Islands road. . Perhaps the hostel along Five island rd was mainly for the steel workers.

Anyways, I�m sure what you've told us will one day also help others, if or when they search Commonwealth Cottages. Unanderra.

Smile