A living history
The story of St David’s site begins at the turn of the 20th century, Perth was growing fast, full of optimism and ambition. One man helping to shape the city was James William Wright, a highly successful architect and builder in Western Australia.
Wright’s impressive portfolio included Woodbridge House, the AMP Building, the Federal Hotel, the York Town Hall, and the buildings and grandstands at Ascot Racecourse.
By 1914, 19 Lawley Crescent was one of Mount Lawley’s most desirable addresses – an elevated block of around one and a half acres. It was here that Lewis Oxam Cockram, commissioned James William Wright to design a home befitting his status.
Wright delivered a magnificent Federation-style home, complete with a striking Gothic Revival conical tower. The property featured a tennis court, vegetable gardens, a windmill, and a Norfolk Island Pine, fashionable at the time.
Cockram named the house ‘Sledmere’.
A home through wartime change
Sledmere was constructed in 1914–15, during the same period that the nearby Astor Theatre (then the Lyceum Theatre) was being built. All of this took place while Australia was at war.
As decades passed, large homes like Sledmere became increasingly expensive to maintain. During the Great Depression of the 1930s, many were repurposed as boarding houses, hospitals and nursing homes.
The hospital years and birth of St David’s
In 1938, Sledmere entered a new chapter when it was converted into a private hospital, operating primarily as a rest and maternity hospital. Originally known as Lister Hospital, it became part of a growing network of small private hospitals serving Perth families.
The next chapter belongs to Sister Elizabeth Thompson, affectionately known as Bess. She trained as a nurse, completed her studies in 1922, and went on to specialise in midwifery in Melbourne.
Returning to Perth in 1935, Sister Thompson partnered with Matilda Hanson to open St Anne’s Hospital in Nanhob Street, Mount Lawley. Four years later, with financial support from her brothers and the sale of that property, she purchased the large house at 19 Lawley Crescent.
Due to a missed registration, she was unable to use the name St Anne’s – and so, in 1939, the hospital became St David’s.
St David’s became a trusted place where many local children were born. The hospital continued until 1954, when Sister Thompson retired.
A new purpose: caring for older people
In 1955, a committee from the Presbyterian Church, led by Reverend James Guthrie Thrum, purchased the site for £10,000.
St David’s reopened with a new mission: aged care.
By 1959, the former hospital had been converted into a 26-bed aged care home, welcoming its first residents – 16 women and three men. Reverend Thrum remained deeply involved in the site’s development until his retirement.
Expansion followed steadily:
- 1960 – the dining room and kitchen were extended
- 1962–1965 – 26 on-site cottages were built, with the first occupied in 1962
- 1965 – around 70 people lived on site
- 1970 – hostel extensions added a further 12 places
Thrum House rises
With no room left for low-rise expansion, plans were made for a bold new chapter.
In 1974, the original homes were demolished to make way for a 10-storey tower called Thurm House catering for 89 independent living units and a 42-bed residential aged care home.
Life at St David’s
St David’s quickly became a vibrant community. Social calendars were full – choirs, outings, craft groups, parties and even weddings – including three weddings between residents.
In 1982, the Christmas party welcomed 119 guests, all bringing their own plates, cutlery and drinks – a reflection of the times.
In 1977, St David’s came under the care of the Uniting Church.
Through the late 1980s and 1990s, renovations modernised accommodation as preferences changed.
Key milestones followed:
- 1998 – serviced units created; a crossover bridge linked Thrum House and the hostel
- 2000 – the original residential aged care home was closed and later demolished
- 2001 – all ten floors of Thrum House refurbished for its 25th anniversary
- 2006–07 – further upgrades created the site we know today
A place to belong
Since the 1950s, hundreds of people have called St David’s home. Some families even represent second generations of residents.
When asked, most independent living residents say the same thing: ‘coming to St David’s was a good move’.
Happy 70th birthday, St David’s.
Contact 
1300 313 000