Sketch - Villa Carlotta 1961

110 Adelaide St Busselton
The place was built in 1896-7 and initially named Ithaca. Frank Backhouse built it for himself and his family. Backhouse had been an engineer in Coolgardie. In 1904 the place was acquired by the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions for a convent and school. It was used by the nuns and for boarders. The place was transferred to the Josephite Sisters in 1922 when they took over the school in Kent Street. The sisters relocated in 1951 and Ithaca continued in use as a retreat for children and for holidays for the Josephite sisters. Then in 1952 the place was sold to a Mr. Rushton who may have given the place name Villa Carlotta and ran it as a private hotel. Following several changes in ownership the place continues to operate as a guesthouse.
https://inherit.dplh.wa.gov.au/public/inventory/details/61342472-8c5d-4544-89a3-8a07bee13193

The exquisite "Villa Corlotta" was originally known as "Ithica" and was called after a Greek Island of the name and though now known by all as "Villa Carlotta" until recently the name "Ithica" was written in the glass across the main door. When Mr. Rushton, an Englishman, bought the property from the Sisters of the Sacred Heart, he re-named it "Villa Carlotta" and ran it as a Private Hotel’ "Ithica" was originally built for a young mining engineer, Frank Backhouse, about the turn, of the century, as a family home for his wife and three children, as he wished to retire in Busselton, but alas, this was not to be. Mr Backhouse was born in Brisbane in I863. He was educated at a Grammar School in Sydney and later studied Science at the University. He was appointed the Chair of Chemistry and delivered a course of lectures at the Technical College on Metalurgy. During 1893 Frank came to W.A. and practiced as a consultant mining engineer in Perth. After a few months he was invited to accept the managership of the W.A. Goldfields Ltd., a pioneer English Company in Coolgardie. This appointment he accepted and from then he travelled extensively throughout the Colony with mining interests in copper, gold and coal. It was during this affluent time that he erected the exquisite “Ithica” and also six cottages still standing in Carey Street. Most unfortunately his retirement was short lived. Due to financial losses in mining shares on the Stock Exchange, he was forced to part with his property in lieu of debts. The Roman Catholic Community bought the large house and it was used as a Convent and School by the Sisters of the Sacred Heart. Frank Backhouse now went back to mining gold and copper at Ravensthorpe and in this venture he again made good retiring in the end to Bridgetown where he passed away in 1930s. He had only one daughter, and she, Mrs. Dorothy Wheeler in company with a Busselton resident, Miss Marjorie Barnard, met a fatal accident near Busselton last year.
Victoria Hicks Busselton Historical Society Newsletter March 1968 Vol. 3 – No. 2