Centre for Women moves into new historic home

Cleveland’s historic Station Master’s Cottage is now home to the Redlands Centre for Women (RCW).

Redland City Mayor Karen Williams officially opened the Centre’s new headquarters at the Cleveland historical precinct last Saturday, after RCW signed a five-year lease to occupy the Council building.

“Council is pleased to have been able to offer RCW more stability after almost three years of uncertainty,” she said.

“The lack of a permanent home over the past year had limited the suite of programs, services and support offered by the RCW.

“The Centre will now be able to extend its service delivery by providing a welcoming women’s hub to enhance social connectiveness.

“The Station Master’s Cottage will host a number of programs, including counselling to support women through challenges, programs to support teenage girls and young mothers and the Redlands Active Women’s Program (RAW) .”

Councillors voted unanimously last year to make the building available for community groups. It was agreed to upgrade the building and invite local community groups to submit proposals to use the building.

Four expressions of interest were received, with RCW being successful.

Division 2 Councillor Peter Mitchell said he was pleased with the new use for the Station Master’s Cottage.

“This cottage is a Cleveland icon and of historic significance to Redlands Coast so I’m pleased it will benefit so much the community to which it belongs,” he said.

“I can’t think of a better use for this building. The RCW have provided wonderful support and services for women and girls for many years.

“We are happy to have played a role in enabling the RCW to provide even more support to women by expanding services from its new hub.”

RCW spokesperson, Sandi Shuttleworth said the new headquarters will enable even more programs to be developed to benefit women on the Redlands Coast.

“After having the centre closed for the past year we have provided our services in ad hoc locations and this has meant we were not able to offer some of our programs,” she said.

“Having the Station Masters Cottage as our new home we have a firm resolve to press on to assist and provide even more services to women in the Redlands in one central location.”

The building was gifted to Redland City Council by Redlands RSL and relocated to the nearby heritage precinct in Linear Park in July 2017.

The building was identified as suitable for community groups, not for profit organisations and/or social enterprise providers to deliver community services while conserving and showcasing Redland Coasts’ cultural heritage.