Welcome. It’s Adrian Bo from Ray White Park Coast, Eastern Suburbs. And today I’m on Lomandra Place in South Coogee to talk about a little known facility that not so long ago covered all the surrounding streets of this estate. So the story starts in 1968. The extraordinary disappearance of Harold Holt, resulted in a successor, John Gorton. Under Gorton, Australia prepared for a new wave of skilled people, and to cope with large projected numbers, it was decided to build “The Endeavour” Hostel, right here. The piece of land had previously been a Commonwealth Rifle Range, but its relevance had declined, as decades went by after WW2. The Endeavour Hostel was a vast, radial construction, designed to house a thousand skilled people comfortably. The complex was designed for its inhabitants to be self-sufficient. As well as housing, it included large commercial kitchens and dining areas, laundries, entertainment, playground, childcare facilities, and a post office.

The housing blocks were connected by walkways to sports fields and landscape gardens. The initial intake was mainly from Europe, as well as Turkey, until 1976, when people from Southeast Asia became the majority. English language programmes were delivered to people that needed them. Previously, the Bunnerong Hostel at Matraville had been built to cater with new Australian residents, but The Endeavour was conceived with a more discerning skilled person in mind. A stay of between 3 to 12 months was typical, enabling a stepping stone from life overseas, and time to establish a job and somewhere permanent to live. In fact, many of the people found a job at the General Motors Holden plant in Pagewood, among them, Doug Cameron, who went on to become a career politician, having come from the UK. The hostel was also used for evacuees from the Cyclone Tracey devastation in Darwin in 1974, and the following year, it took in people from East Timor as well. In the 1980s, the hostel was used partly for student accommodation. As the desires of skilled people evolved, they tended to find their own home on arrival, leaving The Endeavour Hostel redundant.

Eventually it was decided to demolish the structure and a decade later, the residential estate encompassing Asturias Avenue, Fairsky Street, Grevillea Place, Ash Place, Argyle Cresent, Lomandra Place, Tallow Place, Macdili Place, Jacarandra Place and Georgic Place all being developed here. Now, ever since the residential area was established, I’ve sold many properties here, including 4 Lomandra Place, a three bedroom house I sold for $2,120,000. 107 Fairsky Street, a four bedroom house I sold for $2,745,000. 24 Fairsky Street, a four bedroom house I sold for $2.4 million. 125 Fairsky Street as well, a four bedroom which I sold for $2.3 million. Now, if you’d like to consider a valuation on your home, please don’t hesitate to give me a call on 0418 278 316. I’m really passionate about keeping the back stories of our community alive. And The Endeavour Hostel was a highly significant facility that contributed enormously to our society. Keep smiling, keep dry, and always remember your home is worth more with Adrian Bo.