john curtin, prime minister of australia for much of world war ii, was local federal member of parliament from 1928 to 1931 and 1934 to 1945. he lived in cottesloe from 1918 until his death in office in 1945. curtin's house in jarrad street is vested in the national trust of australia (wa) and curtin university. during 2008 there was a suggestion that the house be relocated to the curtin university grounds but the decision was made that the house remain in cottesloe. in may 2009 the federal government announced that it would provide a grant of $580,000 to the national trust to restore the house.