Werndee, the property of the Trustees of the estate of Sir N E Lewis, in Augusta Road, New Town was purchased at auction in February 1941 by the the Old Hobartian Association. In 1946 a decision was made by the Governement to purchase Werndee from the Association to use it as a hostel for boys attending High Schools in Hobart. A committee had been running Werndee as a hostel and the Government had been paying rent but increased demand meant addtional accommodation was required. As the Governement was unable to spend money on private property the site was purchased and the accommodation increased from 40 to 60 boys.Plans for alterations were not approved until 1950.;;The hostel closed in 1975.