Main Cottage

In December 2020, Cottage by the Sea officially opened the doors to a bright, modern renovation. When children and visitors first arrive at Cottage, they are greeted by the grand façade of the original 1930s building, sympathetically restored to its whitewashed coastal glory. Through the welcoming double doors, the children’s eyes are drawn immediately to the multi-coloured spiral slide that leads down from the dormitory floor to the colourful, sunny foyer.

The slide encapsulates so much of what Cottage means to the generations of children who have come here for more than 130 years, and will come through for many decades to come. First and foremost, the slide is fun. It is adventurous. The journey through it is longer than you might imagine. When the children tumble gently out of the slide onto the soft landing mat at the bottom, they are filled with a joy that they share spontaneously with their peers and adults alike. This sense of bonding and belonging is immediate. The experience of the slide shares so much with all the activities the children take part in while at Cottage: ocean swimming, boogie-boarding, long walks to the lighthouse, the low ropes course and the many team building games organised by our Programs Team. All these activities are aimed at building confidence and engaging children in a fun way.

As the children leave the reception area, the excitement builds with stunning views of the water and Port Phillip Heads. From the dining area, water views can be seen from all angles. The use of a large servery window and glass splashback in the kitchen allow the children the comfort of seeing who is making their meals while the delightful smells of nutritious food fill Cottage. 

The dining room and back deck allow the children a full view of all their play areas – ropes course, sand and fire pits, basketball court and large open grass area for various activities that connect Cottage to the beach that appears to be within arm’s reach.

All elements of the redesign have been carefully orchestrated to meet the many needs of the visiting children, including managing the anxiety that some children feel on arrival in a new environment. Every element of the redesign has been focussed on generating happiness and providing a sense of security. This forms the very basis of the work we do to help enhance children’s lives

The modern extension is evident with the use of the Cottage colours on the bottom deck area; bright and light, evoking happiness and optimism. Grey cladding blends with the recycled bricks seamlessly transitioning the new and the old, connecting our 130+ years of history to the new and inspiring opportunities of the future.

We extend our thanks to everyone who contributed financially and in kind to help the Cottage building come to life, as well as everyone who has helped keep Cottage here for more than 130 years. This capital works project was also made possible through generous funding from the Australian Government through the Building Better Regions Fund. This one-time grant has been directed to the Major Capital Works project only. It does not contribute to funding children’s programs.