Orphanage Site next stage
UPDATE:
This just in from the City:
“You may have heard, we are extending the advertising period for the demolition application at the former Damascus site given the sensitivity relating to the site and number of potentially interested parties. We are extending for an additional two weeks – to Monday 20 May.
We are sending letters out to all interested parties and will be amending the site notice accordingly. To assist with getting this message out to the community, officers are hoping you might be able to post this on the BE Net website, noting you already have a feature on this application.
It is also worth emphasising, as per all applications, that any submissions received up until the time a decision is made will be considered by Council. So although the advertising period will close on 20 May, submissions can still be made after this date and these will be considered provided they are made before the application is determined.”
Recently a yellow sign was posted at the old Orphanage site on the corner of Vitoria and Stawell Streets. At the protest last year there was talk of a plan being put to the community about how the site might be dealt with. There has been no such community engagement.
DEVELOPMENT NUMBER: PLP/2013/119
DEVELOPER: St Quentin Consulting Pty Ltd
SITE: 200 Victoria Street
PROPOSAL : Demolition across the site and retention of one building and a couple of trees
COMMENTS DUE : Monday 6th May (about 16 days from 20th April)
(you can read exact wording on the image)
There will be a gathering at the site on Wednesday 24th April at 1pm for former residents, and the wider community, to have their concerns heard by the media.
Here is the current application for a planning permit on the site by developers:
https://eservices.ballarat.
Heritage Impact Statement
https://eservices.ballarat.vic.gov.au/webdocs/373420/Heritage%20Impact%20Statment.pdf
Demolition Plan
https://eservices.ballarat.
Please register your interest and comments about this development with the City.
Here is a short doco about the protest:
Forgotten Australian’s from Erin M McCuskey on Vimeo.
And here is why we need to consider the retention of more significant buildings on this site:
deb’s story from Erin M McCuskey on Vimeo.
Its the social heritage we need to maintain. The fact that the historical report says the old school is not worth maintain because the roof was changed is such a clinical view of what is important about this site. Asking for two building to be saved of the entire site is not a huge ask. Ballarat needs to remember its social history so that Forgotten Australians do not continue to be forgotten.
As for development on the rest of the site we need trees and open space and a sustainable livable place, no repetitive design developers are so fond of. And it needs trees and greenery many trees much greenery, a playground and walking tracks to connect future residents to the Bunny Trail.
But first lets listen to the Forgotten Australians and those for whom this is the only childhood home they will ever know, for good or bad. Surely two buildings is not so much to ask. Surely
Colleen , I can only speak for myself , what i would like to see is the Toddlers Block remain and used for the community a Medical center , Library, a hub for the ballarat east people, Arts, there are so many things that it could be used for , Ballarat East barely has anything that end of town, The old School building would make an ideal Museum, it has multiple classrooms and each could contain the story of Institutional Care including the history of the Alexander Baby Home, The Ballarat Asylum / Orphanage / Children’s Home. The former Nazareth Girls Home and St Josephs Boy’s home. The history of the site also needs to be tort in our schools .
Thank you Pam for your kind words i spoke out about my life about two years ago, for me a huge relief that i finely didn’t have to be silent anymore , we can read all the history books of the heritage side of the site its true live stories that remain silent and if we can share our knowledge to how it was to live in the orphanage then it gives the community a more understanding to why many of us need something saved on the site because it was for many the only home we ever knew , keeping buildings on the site as part of our history is a must , demolition of all buildings is disrespectful knowing that over 4000 children. No one knows our stories better then we do if my story helps others to find courageous and help give children better care today then telling my story has been worth it . I have face many challengers in my life this has been to biggest one so far and i intend to see it through. The girls you mention i know all quite well we spent most of our childhood lives together. Thank you for your support its greatly appreciated .
Thank you Deb for your courageous telling of the story of your time in the Orphanage. I really hope the developers retain at least one of the buildings as a place for memory keeping and to tell people now and in the future about the lives of all you children. I taught some of you at St. Paul’s Anglican Church Sunday School in the 1970’s. I remember Edith and Phyllis Read amongst others.
Keep up your good work with the campaign.
Can I ask a question?
What ideally, would you/BENetwork like to see on the site and how do you see the old buildings being used in the future?
I agree 80% demolition and the loss of nearly all trees is crazy given the history and the location.
Former Residents are having a gathering meeting on Wednesday at 1.00pm to share concerns about the latest development for the site, it will be held at the Orphanage site 200 Victoria Street Ballarat East, I have invited the City of Ballarat Planning to join us they have declined, I’ve invited all Ballarat both state and Federal Ministers to attend. We need our community support to have any chance of achieving a good outcome for the historical site more importantly the historical existing building which still remain on the site.
Everyone is welcome to join with us in our plight to save the Ballarat Orphanage Historical over 100 years of social history from being demolished.
Thanks
Deb
I happen to see the dreaded yellow notice for development board outside the former Damascus college Victoria Street East Ballarat. a quick read of the boards said they are going to demolish 80 % of the buildings, all trees excpect two elm trees. I understand there is a indigenous history attached to this site.
I didn’t spend 14 years of my childhood life just to see it vanish before my eyes, Ballarat is very much known for its historical old buildings and preserving them but these building it seems in the city’s eyes are to no value. Well i disagree this site is all most 150 years old, the Orphanage school building was registered as BALLARAT ORPHANAGE / CHILDREN’S HOME state school only one of its kind in Ballarat the building is as solid as its foundation back in 1918 over 100 years of educating the home children . There is no reason why this building couldn’t be included in any new development. I’m pleased that the Toddlers Block will remain and so rightly it should.