This is a speech that Senator Eric Hutchinson presented in Canberra this week and he also mentioned the Friends of Willow Court and the Friends of Frascati House, both special committee’s of the Derwent Valley Council. He also mentions the Councils part in actively putting the Willow Court Heritage Precinct forward for National Heritage listing. The assessment process is about to start and the Friends groups are ready to support the Council in this endeavor.
Meanwhile the Derwent Valley Gazette ran a full page picture and story of the National attention that Willow Court is now receiving. Councillor James Graham and the Derwent Valley Council’s Regional Development Officer, Jess Dallas today attended the Upper House’s Inquiry into Built Heritage with the Council’s own submission and he reported tonight that the Committee were thankful for the Council’s submission. Earlier this week the Upper House Committee toured through Willow Court with the Friends of Willow Court and listened to their submission. Part of their inquiry is to look at an ongoing funding source for all Tasmanian Heritage.
Eric Hutchinson being interviewed in front of the Willow Court Barracks Building
The Derwent Valley Council Media release.
The Derwent Valley Council welcomes the announcement that the Willow Court Barracks Precinct and Frescati House at New Norfolk are to be assessed by the Australian Heritage Council for possible inclusion in the National Heritage List.
Mayor Martyn Evans said that two of the buildings in the precinct were older than those at Port Arthur and were deserving of national recognition. The main building at Willow Court was built as an invalid barracks in 1830, designed by the convict architect John Lee Archer. Nearby Frescati House was built for Colonial Secretary John Burnett in 1834 at a time when the colonial governors favoured New Norfolk as their summer retreat. Both became part of a much larger hospital site that closed in 2000-01.
“The entire site has local and state heritage listing as well as being included on the Register of the National Estate which was the highest standard prior to the establishing of the National Heritage List,” Councillor Evans said. “With only 124 places included on the list as it stands, we know it will be a rigorous assessment process but the council has no doubt about the national significance of Willow Court both as a convict site and for the story it tells about developments in the understanding and treatment of mental health and intellectual disability over a period of 170 years,” Cr Evans said.
“Council understands that the assessment process may take as long as two years but we will not be sitting on our hands in the meantime,” Cr Evans said. “Having recently expended more than $1.5 million on urgent conservation works at the Barracks and Bronte House, the council is exploring all options to continue that work. With our own funds exhausted, we are about to embark on a world-wide expression of interest process,” he said.
Mayor Evans said the council was deeply appreciative of the interest shown by the Federal Minister for the Environment, the Hon Greg Hunt MP, and the Federal Member for Lyons, Eric Hutchinson MP, as well as State Cabinet members who visited the site last month. “Council sees the sensitive development of the Willow Court site as one of the keys to the future prosperity of the Derwent Valley. Our ultimate goal is to see Willow Court take its rightful place among the 11 other Australian Convict Sites on the World Heritage List,” Mayor Evans concluded.
Podcasts: 1 Deputy Mayor Ben Shaw, 2 Eric Hutchinson MP, 3 Tony Nicholson OAM.
Also Deputy Mayor Ben Shaw stated on his Facebook page:“The Land Sale Committee has recommended the sale/expression of interest go out for a parcel of land on George Street (the large flat area below the new Woolworths) if council receive an agreeable price for this land the proceeds will go into Willow court restoration”
“Further south, the township of New Norfolk in the Derwent Valley is a service town for the agricultural and remaining forestry activity in the surrounding area. New Norfolk has a deep soul, and many locals still have close and personal connections to the historically significant Willow Court, which was for many years Tasmania’s institutional psychiatric asylum. The buildings, which pre-date Port Arthur, are some of the oldest in the nation. It is a national disgrace that such significant architectural and social history is being neglected.” Eric Hutchinson. first speech as the Member for Lyons. 3 December 2013.
It would be hoped that there will be funding for the social restoration as described by Eric, as well as the physical restoration and this will be inclusive of the past patients/residents, families and advocates. Click image of Parliament house to read and listen to the full maiden speech.
