ANNE CAUDLE CENTRE, BENDIGO BENEVOLENT ASYLUM AND LYING-IN HOSPITAL
100-104 BARNARD STREET BENDIGO, GREATER BENDIGO CITY

-
Add to tour
You must log in to do that.
-
Share
-
Shortlist place
You must log in to do that.
- Download report










Statement of Significance
The former Bendigo Benevolent Asylum was established in 1857 and moved to its permanent home in 1860. The present complex was named the Anne Caudle Centre after a local doctor's wife who launched a public subscription fund to establish the original asylum. Originally intended as a home for the aged, infirm and destitute, the asylum has also housed an industrial school for neglected children and a lying-in (maternity) hospital for destitute women (building B3).
The original 1860 building (building B4) was designed by architect Robert Love. Much of the subsequent nineteenth century design was undertaken by architects Vahland and Getzschmann. New wings were added to the original building in 1863, 1864 and 1870 and the portico was built in 1872. The gatehouse (building B1), designed by Getzschmann, was erected in 1862. In 1870-71 a kitchen and laundry (building B5) were built at the rear of the main building. The Superintendent's residence (building B2) was commenced in 1879.
The 1880s and 1890s saw further building developments. By 1883, the mortuary (building B8), the separate dining hall (building B6) and the brick fence had been built and the front iron picket fence on stone foundations was planned.
The lying-in hospital (building B3) was built in 1884. Vahland designed a separate two storey building (building B7) for female patients in 1890.
The former Bendigo Benevolent Asylum has a strong association with the history of welfare in Victoria.
The complex of buildings, housing at various times, a home for the aged, inform and destitute, an industrial school and a lying-in hospital, are important evidence of the social conditions in nineteenth century Victoria and demonstrate the extent of poverty in a large regional centre.
The asylum, part of which was designated as an industrial school from 1868 to 1885, has a strong association with the history of child welfare and education in Victoria and illustrates the attempts by government to deal with the problem of destitute and neglected children.
The complex is a particularly large and rare surviving example of a number of benevolent asylums constructed throughout Victoria in the nineteenth century.
WC Vahland's concept for the early buildings of the complex exhibit a deliberate consistency of design and a hierarchy of style from the front to the back of the site - from the Classical facades of the main building and former Superintendent's Residence behind the decorative palisade fence fronting Barnard Street, to the bi-chrome brick compositions of the former Lying-In Hospital, Kitchen/Laundry block and Dining Hall, to the austere red brick structures of the Women's' Ward, mortuary and the fences fronting Mercy and Hope Streets.
The main building, a Renaissance essay in the Ionic Order, is one of the best works of the local architect, WC Vahland (in partnership with R Getzschmann). During the last half of the nineteenth century Vahland produced almost every building of note in Bendigo except those designed by the Public Works Department.
With the exception of the gatehouse (building B1) and the former dining hall (now the concert hall, building B6), the interior of the buildings have been extensively altered.
-
-
ANNE CAUDLE CENTRE, BENDIGO BENEVOLENT ASYLUM AND LYING-IN HOSPITAL - History
Associated People: Vahland & Getschmann;ANNE CAUDLE CENTRE, BENDIGO BENEVOLENT ASYLUM AND LYING-IN HOSPITAL - 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:EXEMPTIONS FROM PERMITS:
(Classes of works or activities which may be undertaken without a permit under
Part 4 of the Heritage Act 1995)
Policy
Permit exemptions are given on the basis that the works will not affect the
cultural significance of the registered site. Where buildings or structures
are relatively intact, permit exempted works will be limited to interior
finishing schemes, and altering non original kitchens and bathrooms providing
any surviving original features are maintained.
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.
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.
3. If there is a conservation policy and plan approved by the Executive
Director, all works shall be in accordance with it.
4. Nothing in this declaration prevents the Executive Director from amending
or rescinding all or any of the permit exemptions.
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.
Buildings B-2,B-3, B-4, B-5
All interior non structural works are exempted from permits provided those
works do not affect the external appearance of the building.
Buildings B-1, B-6
All interior finishing schemes, and alterations to non original kitchens and
bathrooms are exempted from permits.
Fences F-1 & F-2
Maintenance and repair is exempted from permits provided that stonework and
brickwork is not overpainted nor sandblasted. Removal of paint via chemical
means from masonry is permit exempt.
-
-
-
-
-
BENDIGO TOWN HALLVictorian Heritage Register H0117
-
SPECIMEN COTTAGEVictorian Heritage Register H1615
-
BENDIGO SCHOOL OF MINES (BENDIGO TAFE)Victorian Heritage Register H1505
-
"1890"Yarra City
-
"AMF Officers" ShedMoorabool Shire
-
"AQUA PROFONDA" SIGN, FITZROY POOLVictorian Heritage Register H1687
-
'CARINYA' LADSONS STOREVictorian Heritage Register H0568
-
1 Alexander StreetYarra City
-
1 Botherambo StreetYarra City
-
-