Busselton Hospital Nurses Quarters

Statement of Significance

• The place demonstrates the form and some detail of a large residence in the Federation Bungalow style exectuted in rendered brick and tile. • Although obscured by plantings the place has value as a landmark in the streetscape since the late 1890s. • The place has historic value for its association with several influention members of the Busselton community since the 1890s. The Government Resident and Resident Medical Officer Dr Hungerford, local farmers Charles Roberts and Richard Gale, and the former Premier Sir James Mitchell. • The place has historic value as the former nurses quarters for the Busselton Hospital which was located adjacent. Together the buildings formed a medical precinct which continues today in the use of the building for medical purposes. • The construction of this large residence in 1896 demonstrates the confidence in the future of the town of Busselton and the region at this time of economic buoyancy. • The place has social value as its continuity of prescence in the streetscape since 1896 which contributes to the community sense of place. • As the former Nurses' Quarters this place was the home of many individuals who worked in the Busselton medical system throughout the 20th century.

Physical Description

The building is located on the southern corner of Myles and West Streets in a largely residential precinct. The grounds are predominantly grassed and the perimeter of the property features mature trees which prevent a clear view of the property from the street. The former single storey rendered brick residence demonstrates elements and the form of the Federation Bungalow style. It presents a broad frontage, with a centrally located front entrance door flanked by double hung windows. It has a pitched hipped roof covered with Marseilles pattern autumn blend tiles and a replacement full width return verandah. A hipped roofed building with a return verandah and four sets of chimney articulate the roof scape. The shallow pitched verandah is roofed with corrugated iron supported on metal posts. Portions of the verandah have been enclosed, and a two storey brick building in the Post War International style adjoins the southern elevation of the original residence.

History

The single storey former residence which forms the core of this place was built for Dr Lancelot Marchell Travers Hungerford (1865-1939), who was appointed Busselton Resident Medical Officer in July 1893. In January of the same year he married Alice Elizabeth Wardrop (c1867-1925) in Dongara. In 1896, architect Thomas Jackson called for tenders for the construction of a ten roomed brick and stone residence for Dr Hungerford. It is proposed that the residence which is located on this lot was built in1896. Thomas Jackson was a Perth based architect who had trained in the UK before settling in WA in 1893. Dr Hungerford took on the role of Resident Magistrate whilst in Busselton which required legal and administrative responsibilities for the government. The Hungerford Home was therefore referred to as the 'Residency' and the Governor stayed there during visits to the region. Until c1903 when they left the region, the Hungerfords had several children during the time they were living in the house. In 1904, it was sold to Charles Fox Roberts (1844-1923) of Straham Farm, Capel who named it ‘Ullesthorpe’ during the time he and his wife Hannah owned the property. The place was used by the extended family during their visits to Busselton as the farm continued to be occupied by the Roberts family.The name 'Ullesthorpe' is likely to originate with the small town in Leicestershire UK of the same name. In 1915, after selling the farming property ‘Fairlawn’, Richard Gale purchased the property and renamed it ‘Windhae’ (pronounced Windy). Richard Gale was a prominent businessman in Busselton and was responsible for the subdivision and sale of land in West Busselton. This property was close to the West Busselton subdivision he organised at approximately this time. Sir James Mitchell, brother-in-law of Richard Gale later purchased the property. It was then purchased by the State Government to be used as the Nurses’ Quarters for the Busselton Hospital, which was previously situated across the road in West Street. Extensive alterations and additions were made to accommodate the nurses. The date of these changes is not known but it is proposed that it was sometime after 1924 when the hospital transferred to Government control. It is noted that a large program of works took place in the late 1930s which may have included alterations to create the nurses quarters. Aerial photographs indicate that the two storey addition was undertaken in the 1960s. The place is currently used by the WA Department of Health for research and training in the field of Population Health.

Integrity/Authenticity

Moderate/Moderate

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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