Since their launch in 1983, Worowa Aboriginal College has holistically educated girls from years 7 to 12, from all corners of Australia. Located an hour outside of Melbourne, the Healesville school is home to over 45 boarders.

Recently, Worowa received a grant to build a much-needed new boarding house, with beds for 32 students, and 3 carers.

Following a donation of quilt cover sets, sheet sets and essential bedding to their school last year, Linen House was asked during the school's construction to help provide more products to set-up areas of the house, such as the main lounge, leisure spaces, as well as an integrated kitchen area for students to prepare late-night snacks and early morning treats.

"I'd been wanting to visit our Healesville store for awhile with our former retail manager, so on July 23, Anne and I set out to visit both locations."

"We loaded my car with boxes of throws, lounge cushions, as well as dinnerware, glassware, mugs, and cutlery. I added in cutting boards, placemats, tea towels, and vases for native flowers, and off we went to personally deliver our donations."

Upon arrival, Michele and Anne were given a tour of Alinta Boarding House, which was still under construction, but almost there!

With opening day set for August 5th, those few outstanding finishing touches were madly being worked on.

"The architecture and flow pattern of the new boarding house is so well-designed, and full of consideration for the needs of young women living so far from home."

"There's a music room, a quiet room, an entertainment space, as well as a sick bay room. Windows are large and lofty, and look out onto the eucalyptus landscape. I love how the designers at Law Architects worked with construction group BowdenCorp to incorporated earthy Australian outback tones into the rooms." says Michele.

The bedrooms have 2 bunk beds per room, and 4 private bedheads designed to store personal items, as well as roomy closet spaces. There is also a carer bedroom located within each wing of the house.

During the tour, Michele noticed new mattresses had just been delivered. As founder of one of Australia's longest-running bed linen brands, she only felt it natural to query Worawa’s school principal, Tanya Peeler, as to what bed linen was being used for the beds.

"Tanya confirmed the school would use our previous bed linen donation from the year before, but of course, such a beautiful new space deserves new sheets and quilt cover sets, and the linen needs to complement the colours and vibe of this new boarding house."

So, on August 3rd, Michele returned to the new build with another carload: this time with 35 mattress protectors, 35 sheet sets, and 35 quilt cover sets, as well as an ironing board, and iron.

This left just enough room for Elena, who works at Linen House in marketing, styling and photography, and Lina, Heatherton's amazing shop manager, both of whom imparted bed-making tips and styling ideas to our helpers.

"We enlisted the help of 7 students, who put all the protectors and sheets on the beds, and filled the quilts and pillows with our various quilt cover sets."

"The girls were so excited about the new linen, and each professed their favourite pattern." muses Michele. "They totally rearranged the planned styling layout, as they were eager to grab their favourite design, and position it on their own bed!" 

Dressing 35 beds in one afternoon is quite a feat, especially as the quilts were all ironed for the grand opening day in 2 days.

With the sun streaming through the windows, bed-making efforts got quite heated, but it was worth the effort and sweat, as the girls felt so excited about their new home. 

"I reminded them that they should make their bed every day ... after a long day at school, it’s nice to return to one’s own special space."

Interesting fact

Alinta, the name of this new boarding house, translates to "the flame" in multiple Indigenous Australian languages.

Alinta represents warmth, light, and the enduring strength of First Nations women.

Discover more

If you wish to find out more about this incredible new space, visit Worowa's site here.

They also provide information for anyone interested in making donations here.