The application for the “Proposed Development” of the site of the former Mercy Hospital was announced on the Shire Council’s regular Friday page of The Witness on June 14. This proposal concerns the demolition of four buildings on the site.

Of chief concern is the proposed removal of the first building constructed on the site in 1911, the main hospital erected as the Sacred Heart Hospital. 

Other demolitions proposed were of the former dining room, shed and workshop block. These later buildings are of less concern, being of no particular heritage significance, nor notable for beauty or history. The question of usefulness I leave for the moment.

HISTORY: The old hospital was built by the great builder Fr Hennessy, Parish Priest of St Mary’s Catholic Parish, in a concerted campaign supported by local Catholics and many in the wider community of Young and district. 

The hospital was to be run by the Sisters of the Sacred Heart, who came from England in 1909 to open a small orphanage at Wombat. 

The Hospital was later taken over by Sisters of Mercy from the Goulburn, but continued to be known as “The Sacred Heart” until about 1960. 

Since then it has been known as “The Mercy”, and has continued operating at this place for nearly a century. 

The hospital’s operations have recently evolved into the Mercy Care at both Young Health Centre (former District Hospital) and at Mount St Joseph’s Old People’s Home (adjunct to the Retirement Village). 

This has resulted in the old hospital becoming redundant for the present. And exposed to danger.

ARCHITECTURAL IMPORTANCE: As built in 1911, the hospital was a fine example of the ‘Convent Style’ of 19th and early 20th Century Australia. 

This recognisable phase of building followed the ideals of Victorian era construction with added references to medieval Gothic design, including high-pitched roofs, arched windows and battlements, and niches for statues. 

This is clearly seen in the old black-and-white photo of the hospital as it appeared by 1926, when the final form of the old building was completed with two-storeyed verandahs facing Berthong Street.

The original beauty of the hospital could still be recovered. 

In spite of insensitive additions in the later 20th Century enough of the early fabric remains to allow recovery of the handsome structure dominating the corner of Campbell and Berthong Streets. 

It is a building of prime importance along the sequence of fine premises forming the southern entrance to town.

INTERIOR: I was fortunate to be included in a tour last Monday of the hospital buildings with Craig Filmer, Director of Planning and the Environment for Young Council, Ray Christison, the heritage advisor for Young, and Mr Jim Reeves. 

Agent for the owner was Kim Murray, architect (Bendick Murrell), who let us into the buildings.

There was more surviving internal character than I expected. 

The original main entrance is to the right of the 1963 portal, and I was surprised to find the impressive classical columns and splendid staircase I remembered from a long time ago. 

Some lovely plaster ceilings and other detail remain from the remorseless late 20th Century renovations. 

Deep within is a sequence of piers with small decorative supporters that can be seen on the brick piers of the lower storey of the Berthong Street verandah. 

The point is that there is more to the discerning eye than might have been supposed.

SOCIAL SIGNIFICANCE: The Burra Charter, which guides the criteria by which buildings in Australia are assessed for their heritage significance, includes the degree of Social Value that attaches to a particular site or building. The hospital’s rating is through the roof on this one. 

Since I mentioned the hospital in these articles, I have had to allocate a good half hour for five minutes shopping. 

I am constantly stopped by people who want to tell me of the importance to them of the hospital - not only because they were born or had their tonsils out (Oh! the ice cream!) but because they remember loved ones cared for in illness here, or that this is where they held their hand as they died. People have telephoned me urging me to fight for the building!

I hope that, rather than fight, we can find a way forward. 

Even if we can’t have the buildings restored (sometimes it is impossible) it would add to continuity of the streetscape to have the façade restored, so that we retain the feel of our memories. 

To my surprise the hospital buildings are not “within the Council’s Conservation Zone”. 

I’d like them added (or the zone extended), since with the Mount St Joseph’s Old People’s Home they form the gateway to town from the South, and lead splendidly to the High School, Carrington Park, Hennessy High admin and St Mary’s Church precinct, and the Old Primary School, all of which themselves frame the vista of our valley with the Town Hall and commercial centre, dominated by (State Heritage listed) Millard’s emporium.

The talk is of the new economy: well, tourism can drive the economy of a town. 

We have so much heritage to offer, buildings and mature parkland, but also social significance such as the gold diggings, the site of the only reading of the Riot Act, the Chinese Tribute Garden, and more besides. 

The truth is that Young has just started to scratch the surface of Tourism. 

With the Hilltops Region finding its tottering feet and a new Super-Council about to descend on our heads, our local heritage structures and precincts assume a new importance.

We must welcome our visitors as we mean to go on.