Back to search results
FORMER MORGUE
60-80 NELSON PLACE WILLIAMSTOWN, HOBSONS BAY CITY
FORMER MORGUE
60-80 NELSON PLACE WILLIAMSTOWN, HOBSONS BAY CITY
All information on this page is maintained by Heritage Victoria.
Click below for their website and contact details.
Victorian Heritage Register
-
Add to tour
You must log in to do that.
-
Share
-
Shortlist place
You must log in to do that.
- Download report
On this page:
Statement of Significance
What is significant?
The Former Morgue in Williamstown is a coursed bluestone rubble building with a hipped corrugated galvanised iron roof (although originally clad in slate) and galvanised iron downpipes and gutters. It is a single storey, Georgian style, one room building with an arched entrance, rusticated voussoirs, prominent keystone, quoins and stone lintels. It has a rectangular plan. The internal bluestone walls have been white washed but all panelled doors, hasp, stables, hinges and timber roof framework are original and are of architectural significance. The original use of this building is reflected in the location of window openings, as they are set high above ground level, thus concealing the processes of the morgue from the external public. Its siting also reflects its original use as it is in close proximity to the port.
The design is attributed to the Public Works Department Chief Architect, James Balmain. The building was erected by HR Thomas and HR Hunt in May 1859. The Former Morgue was first built near Gem Pier and moved twice prior to positioning it on its present site in 1873. It is currently located in the depot of the Ports and Harbour (also cited as the Melbourne Harbour) Trust Yard in Ann Street. It was closed in 1925 due to poor sanitary facilities and occupational health concerns.
How is it significant?
The Williamstown Former Morgue is of architectural, historical and cultural significance to the State of Victoria.
Why is it significant?
The Former Morgue is architecturally significant as an early example of Public Works designed building in the Georgian style. It is historically significant as the only surviving independent morgue, as possibly the first morgue to have been erected in Victoria and as a remnant of the era when Williamstown was a thriving port town, for most of the earliest years of settlement in Victoria. It is also of historical significance for its close association with Doctor John Wilkins, surgeon and coroner of Williamstown and prominent member of the Medical Society of Victoria, who was responsible for co-founding the morgue and subsequently worked in the building.
[Online Data Upgrade Project 2001]
Show more
Show less
-
-
FORMER MORGUE - Permit Exemptions
General Exemptions:General exemptions apply to all places and objects included in the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR). General exemptions have been designed to allow everyday activities, maintenance and changes to your property, which don’t harm its cultural heritage significance, to proceed without the need to obtain approvals under the Heritage Act 2017.Places of worship: In some circumstances, you can alter a place of worship to accommodate religious practices without a permit, but you must notify the Executive Director of Heritage Victoria before you start the works or activities at least 20 business days before the works or activities are to commence.Subdivision/consolidation: Permit exemptions exist for some subdivisions and consolidations. If the subdivision or consolidation is in accordance with a planning permit granted under Part 4 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 and the application for the planning permit was referred to the Executive Director of Heritage Victoria as a determining referral authority, a permit is not required.Specific exemptions may also apply to your registered place or object. If applicable, these are listed below. Specific exemptions are tailored to the conservation and management needs of an individual registered place or object and set out works and activities that are exempt from the requirements of a permit. Specific exemptions prevail if they conflict with general exemptions. Find out more about heritage permit exemptions here.Specific Exemptions:General Conditions: 1. All exempted alterations are to be planned and carried out in a manner which prevents damage to the fabric of the registered place or object. General Conditions: 2. Should it become apparent during further inspection or the carrying out of alterations that original or previously hidden or inaccessible details of the place or object are revealed which relate to the significance of the place or object, then the exemption covering such alteration shall cease and the Executive Director shall be notified as soon as possible. General Conditions: 3. If there is a conservation policy and planall works shall be in accordance with it. Note:A Conservation Management Plan or a Heritage Action Plan provides guidance for the management of the heritage values associated with the site. It may not be necessary to obtain a heritage permit for certain works specified in the management plan. General Conditions: 4. Nothing in this declaration prevents the Executive Director from amending or rescinding all or any of the permit exemptions. General Conditions: 5. Nothing in this declaration exempts owners or their agents from the responsibility to seek relevant planning or building permits from the responsible authority where applicable. Exterior . Repair and maintenance of roofing where replacement is with corrugated galvanised steel (not zincalume or Colorbond) or re-instatement of Welsh slate, with appropriate and properly detailed lead or galvanised steel cappings and flashings. . Maintenance of power or pipelines or other public services located on the property where this involves no alteration to the fabric of the place . Cleaning out gutters, drainage systems and other water storage and drainage areas Interior No internal works should be given exemption.FORMER MORGUE - Permit Exemption Policy
-
-
-
-
-
WILLIAMSTOWN PRIMARY SCHOOLVictorian Heritage Register H1639
-
ST HELLIERSVictorian Heritage Register H0560
-
TIME BALL TOWERVictorian Heritage Register H1649
-
'Altona' Homestead (Formerly 'Laverton' Homestead) and Logan ReserveHobsons Bay City
-
-