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| Ward F at the former Royal Derwent Hospital was recently gutted by fire and soon after demolished. |
Derwent Valley Mayor Martyn Evans has said that he takes security of Willow Court very seriously. What a joke, the buildings that are adjacent to Ward F are all busted open, ready for the next person to wreak further havoc. Vision and action is needed, not token talk of security fences that will just be busted open as soon as they are erected. There are two other period Art Deco buildings adjacent to the now former Ward F, in an abandoned and derelict state, and surely their future is grim if they are left to stand open to the elements and vandals.
Surely the oval precinct and two remaining Art Deco buildings that are owned by the council should be incorporated into the broader strategy of promoting Willow Court as a visitor attraction. Connecting the periods of architecture with the changes in healthcare that took place in the complex's operation (1827-2000) is essential, and these Art Deco buildings played a central role in the changes towards healthcare at the time.
Our collective history is more than just buildings built of sandstone. Surely the Council could be pro-active and deliver a usable space in these abandoned Art Deco buildings for community uses, at least that way they are being used and there is a presence on site. Simply erecting fences doesn't fix the problem, and if no action is taken then the fate of other remaining buildings on the site can only be seen as bleak and unpredictable.
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| Only memories now remain of the Art Deco ward F building designed in 1937. |
"Connecting the periods of architecture with the changes in healthcare that took place in the complex's operation (1827-2000) is essential, and these Art Deco buildings played a central role in the changes towards healthcare at the time." Amen to that!
ReplyDeleteWhat was the Council thinking - that they could avoid the heritage issues by allowing natural neglect and vandals' nastiness to destroy the complex? They got their way! Surely they could have re-used the buildings intelligently and sensitively.
There must be ways in which these wonderful old buildings can be re-incorporated into public or indeed private use. I was amazed by the restoration of old Hydro homes at Tarraleah, however that was all private money, I guess.
ReplyDeletePerhaps people still feel some stigma from the past about the Royal Derwent Hospital. the best way to get over this is to imbue new life and meaning into these buildings, making them a place for community good. Learning centres, exhibition spaces, office and work areas.
Good luck, Tasmania.