Old Hospital Complex (Margaret River) to be placed on Heritage Register

20/3/96

The State Government has moved to protect the heritage values of Margaret River's historic Old Hospital Complex.

Heritage Minister Richard Lewis said the complex would be placed on the State's interim Register of Heritage Places by the Heritage Council of Western Australia.

Mr Lewis said the complex, built in the 1920s during the group settlement period, had important links with the history of Margaret River.

"The Old Hospital Complex was established at a turning point in the evolution of the Margaret River region," he said.

"It was also the first public amenity established in the shire and forms part of an important historical precinct."

Mr Lewis said the Tunbridge Street complex included the Hospital building (built in 1924), the Doctor's Surgery (1925), Margaret Cecil Rest House (1929), the Nurses' Quarters (1929) and other ancillary buildings.

Margaret River was established about 1910 and became the service centre for the region.

"However, the town developed primarily in the 1920s under the Group Settlement Scheme," the Minister said.

"The Government offered migrants from Britain assisted passage, temporary accommodation, employment in country areas and sustenance money.

"Although the scheme was ultimately unsuccessful, a large number of migrants came to the Margaret River area.

"The hospital building, a single-storey weatherboard cottage, was completed in May 1924 and served the needs of the increasing population of the region resulting from the Group Settlement Scheme.

"It was seen as a commitment by the State to the long-term future of the area."

Mr Lewis said the Margaret Cecil Rest House, a single-storey weatherboard cottage, had a colourful history.

Lady Alicia Cecil, wife of a British Government Minister, and her daughter Margaret visited the Margaret River area in 1926 to see how Englishwomen were faring under the Group Settlement Scheme.

They found that transport for pregnant women in remote and isolated areas was a problem, with many of them arriving in Margaret River early and camping on the hospital's verandah, rather than risking not arriving in time.

"Lady Alicia and Margaret felt a rest home was needed, so on their return to England they set about raising money," Mr Lewis said.

"Margaret sent out an appeal to all the 'Margarets' of Britain and about £1,200 was raised. Funds were also raised through a bridge tournament and an exhibition of sketches by Lady Cecil and her daughter.

"It was opened in May 1930 and the association with the Cecil family continued for more than 30 years, until Margaret died in 1963.

"In 1976 it became a permanent care unit for aged people. The women who spent their last years in the building were from the same era as those who waited there for the birth of their children."

Mr Lewis said a new hospital was completed in 1990 and the old hospital complex was now used as a community resource centre.

"The complex is a significant landmark in Margaret River and has an important role to play in teaching us about the early settlement of the region, particularly the role of women in that era," he said.

"Other similar facilities in the South-West have been dismantled or destroyed by vandalism, so it has added heritage significance."

Media contact : Bronwyn Hillman 222 9595 or 221 1377