Cottesloe Deaf School site sold for $35m

A $35 million sale of the heritage-listed Cottesloe Deaf School has been finalised, with the site on Curtin Avenue earmarked for an aged care facility project.

The state government today announced it had finalised a $35 million sale of the school to Cottesloe Living, Health & Aged Care, a joint venture between the Fire and Emergency Services Superannuation Fund and aged care provider Hall & Prior.

CoreLogic data shows a 1.78-hectare piece of land on 53 Curtin Avenue was sold to Cottesloe Living, Health & Aged Care for $31.5 million.

A smaller lot within 53 Curtin Avenue was sold to Cottesloe Heritage Precinct Pty Ltd for $3.5 million.

Australian Securities and Investments Commission documents show Francesco Sciarrone and Graeme Prior, of Hall & Prior, as directors of both buyer companies.

In 2022, the state government appointed Hall & Prior to redevelop the property via a memorandum of understanding signed with the West Australian Foundation for Deaf Children Inc and Cottesloe Living, Health & Aged Care.

Lands Minister John Carey said the site was an integral part of Cottesloe’s history that would be activated to its full potential.

"The redevelopment of the Cottesloe Deaf School site will not only deliver essential housing for ageing Western Australians, but also provide new facilities to support the vital services of the West Australian Foundation for Deaf Children,” he said.

The school was built by the WA Foundation for Deaf Children in 1896 and was taken over by the state government in 1949.