Commonwealth Hostel 1924 – 1945

In 1924 construction began on Hostel No. 3 in the paddocks of North Canberra, otherwise known as ‘the prairie’, with the Hostel later renamed ‘Hotel Ainslie’, and then again to Gorman House in 1927, in honour of Federal Commissioner Clarence Gorman.

Gorman House welcomed its first residents, both men and women, in 1925, and by the late 1920’s was extended to accommodate the influx of young typists who were beginning their careers in the Public Service.

In the 1930’s men were moved to different hostels, and Gorman became a women-only house for nearly 15 years.

Over the years we have received anonymous donations to our archives which reveal fond memories of the people who lived at Gorman House. They live on in the galleries below, alongside official federal records from the National Archives of Australia.

A black and white photograph of the old Gorman House kitchen.

Recollections

Excerpts from the Australian Women’s Mirror article written in 1927.

“There are chiefly single rooms each containing a wardrobe, dressing table, comfortable chair and a bed finished with a pretty eiderdown. There is a laundry (in which the copper fires are set up and cleared up by men) and electric irons. Beautiful verandahs surround a spacious sunny courtyard abloom with lovely flowers and front verandahs look over rolling green hills. The five sitting rooms are furnished with Chesterfields and easy chairs and many light chairs are available for the verandahs. There are no restrictions on the boarders whose only duties are to keep their rooms clean and tidy. They have all meals at the hostel.”

Letters from Gorman Resident Edwin Charles, 1936

Image: Gorman House kitchen under construction, National Archives of Australia

Artworks

These sketches were found in our archive depicting life at Gorman during its years as a hostel.

A black line drawing of a woman getting ready wearing 1920's clothing.

Sketch of a woman sitting and getting ready at her table wearing 1920's style clothing, black marker on paper, date unknown.

Black marker sketch of the potential setup of a room at Gorman, perspective is from an above corner.

Sketch of the potential layout of a Gorman room from the 1920, black marker on paper, date unknown.

A light pencil sketch of people walking through the courtyards of Gorman

Drawing of Gorman courtyards in 1938, by Charles Thompson Jackson, pencil on paper.

Private Collection Gallery

Black and white image of Gorman House, with saplings and early gardens in the foreground.

Gorman House and its early garden plantings, circa 1926, bromide print, donated anonymously.

Gorman House sits covered in snow in the distance with snowy roads in the foreground.

A snow storm hits Gorman House, 1926 bromide print, donated anonymously.

A diptych of two old photographs. On the left: A woman sits on the veranda at Gorman house wearing a dark cardigan and black skirt. On the right: A woman reclines on the Gorman lawns on Laundry day as washing hangs in the background.

Grace Mary-Anne Smith outside her room at Gorman House, 1938, bromide print, donated by her family. A woman reclines on the Gorman lawns on Laundry day, Silver gelatin print, donated anonymously.