LORD SOMERS CAMP

148, 150 LORD SOMERS ROAD AND 63, 65 PARKLANDS AVENUE SOMERS, MORNINGTON PENINSULA SHIRE

All information on this page is maintained by Heritage Victoria. Click below for their website and contact details.

Victorian Heritage Register

12728_Lord_Somers_Camp_June_2011_Dining_Hall

Statement of Significance

• Additional Place Information

  • History

    LORD SOMERS CAMP - History

    The Lord Somers Camps, which brought together boys from different classes to encourage social harmony, were based a series of camps held by the Duke of York from 1921. The camps were based on the premise that through living together, boys would see their similarities rather than their differences and carry this understanding with them into adulthood. Governor Lord Somers established the camps in Victoria in 1929.

    Duke of York Camps

    The Duke of York (later King George VI) was interested in industrial relations and was the first president of the Industrial Welfare Society. He was concerned with making a better understanding between young people of different backgrounds, and came up with the idea of a camp at which an equal number of boys from public school and from industry would spend a week together. The concept was that only by living together together, could the boys properly learn about each other. The first of these camps was held in 1921 in Romney. One hundred public schools and one hundred industrial firms were invited to each send two boys between the ages of 17 and 19 to come to the Duke's Camp as his guest. The camps continued for 17 years, but were not held again after World War II.

    Lord Somers met with the Duke of York when he travelled to Australia in 1927, and it is likely it is during this meeting the Duke of York camps were discussed.

    Idea/Planning

    The first two camps were held at a site in Anglesea. Lord Somers had connections with the Victorian Scouting Movement, and it was with their assistance that such a camp could be run, with the Anglesea Scouts acting as helpers, known as 'slushies', to free the boys from fatigue duties.

    Lord Somers wrote in April 1928:

    'I am thinking of starting a camp here similar to the Duke of York's camp at home for public school and industrial boys. It would take place at Christmas, as a start we would have 100 boys for a week. It might do good to break down a few prejudices'.

    The Sun News Pictorial wrote:

    The primary purpose in this camp of bringing together forty boys from the public schools and forty boys from factories and other industrial undertakings is admirable; exchange of opinions and experiences must pave the way to a better and deeper understanding. On this basis harmony is built (by) emphasis. The boys are taught . that the other fellow has his point of view; that only by mutual concessions are reforms affected, progress made and a fine community spirit realised, and that stupid and snobbish class distinctions are the breeding grounds of distrust and enmity. Inspired by these ideals the two camps already have been an undoubted success. Why, then should not this get-together movement be applied on a wider scale? Why should not other cities follow the lead set by the state Governor and provide means whereby boys from various walks in life could meet on an equal footing, discuss their problems, and by these means make the way easier for grappling with the bigger problems later in life?
    Much of the industrial bitterness and strife which have disfigured the industrial history of the Commonwealth, particularly in recent years, would have been avoided if the opposing parties had absorbed the simple lessons taught by these boys camps; many a dispute would have been settled at a round table conference in a frank and generous discussion of the issues involved. The get-together movement, as we have pointed out, has proved an unqualified success with the boys. How much greater would this be if labour and capital gave it a sincere trial.

    First Camps

    'This is a great adventure and a great experiment. I hope it will be the first of many happy gatherings of a similar nature from year to year' - Lord Somers, 1929

    The first camp was held at the Scout Camp at Anglesea. Activities throughout the week included film screenings, football matches, swimming, church services, an aviation display, sports competitions and fireworks. The games which were the same eighteen games as on the Duke of York's Camp schedule were to commence on the Monday and to comprise the 'foundation upon which the ultimate success of failure of the week of Camp will depend.' The emphasis was to be on each person given of his best to their team and finishing 'all out'. Detailed routines for all aspects of Camp life were established, many of which still prevail today in the Camps at Somers.

    The camp attracted much media attention, and all the major newspapers had journalists in attendance, who undertook to print a daily 'newspaper', Summer's Times. The Age described this camp as a triumph of organisation, whilst the Argus noted:

    '[.] the readiness and enthusiasm with which the boys have adopted the idea of continuing the associations thus formed at the best testimony to the work of Lord Somers' plan. This experiment, which it may be hoped is the forerunner of many others, has a serious and a fine purpose. It brings together lads whose outlooks need not differ but whose environments easily lead to differences of outlook'

    Permanent Camps

    The first two camps were deemed such a success that the association, Lord Somers Camp and Power House (formed by the old boys of the camp) decided to find a permanent site for subsequent camps. It was to be a rural setting, within easy reach of Melbourne, with water frontage and access to a creek. Such a site was found in Balnarring East (now Somers), with land donated by J.S. Feehan, the owner of nearby property Coolart (H----). A number of prominent businesses donated money for the buildings, including Felton Grimwade, GJ Coles and AM and GR Nicholas. Saxil Tuxen, town planner (see above), surveyed the site, and Arthur Stephenson of Stephenson and Meldrum, designed the buildings. They were to be rustic in appearance, and in keeping with the rural setting were of rough timber. Stephenson had visited camps overseas and the idea of 'close-knit' community influenced his design of the camp. The first Big Camp at the new site was held in 1931, and was the last camp for Lord Somers as Governor of Victoria. It had been his wish to build a permanent camp and to see it functioning before he left for England. A special camp was held on the weekend of June 12-14, his last weekend in Victoria. At his farewell speech, he requested that the 'annual camp be used exclusively for the bringing together of new boys who have not yet met each other and who, through having some common experience together, may form some acquaintance which later will mature into real friendship and mutual respect.

    Somers promised to return for Big Camp 1933, a promise which he, perhaps somewhat unexpectedly, fulfilled. He also returned in 1937, and for years maintained close contact with the camp, sending gifts and money and welcoming members of the camp at his residence, Eastnor Castle, Herefordshire.

    The 1932 Big Camp maintained the vice-regal connection, with invitations to boys being issued by Sir William Irvine, Chief Justice and Lieutenant Governor in the absence of the Governor. Doc McAdam noted 'Tomorrow you will go back to your normal lives, but, we hope, freed from prejudice, the stumbling block of present day existence, and with a determination to regard all men as worthy of help and respect.' The Argus wrote of the 'Slushies' as the embodiment of the effectiveness of the camp, who attended to the washing-up, waiting at tables and the general kitchen work of the camp. 'Incidentally, they organised much of the fun, and by their example, demonstrated to the new boys the spirit of the camp and the Power House.

    Somers reminisces:

    'I want to say something about the spirit and the organisation behind these Camps. In the first place they are not a welfare movement, though they do undoubtedly result in the boys benefiting from the open-air life. Nor are these camps designed with any material motive. Our aim is to change and improve the mental attitude of the boys to each other - to beget a state of mind in which the two sets merge in other. As the period of the Camp is short - only one week - every effort is made to give the boys full scope for recreation and play. We do not wish to give them a busman's holiday and saddle them with numerous domestic duties, and so they are free of nearly all these, and can devote the whole of their time to themselves. We wish too, to give them absolute freedom with as little hampering discipline as possible, as so long as the simple rules of the Camp, such as punctuality at meals and so on are observed, they can do what they like. The Group Leaders take charge of the organised sports, and as each group is composed of boys from both school and workshop, unity is preserved. Superficial differences in worldly property vanish at the Camp; you can't tell one from the other; a feeling of comradeship in a common life manifests itself; a spirit of loyalty to each other, and the ideals behind the camp quickly emerge [.] The Power House is the continuation of the Camp. Every boy who attends the Camp becomes automatically a member of the Power House. [. when a boy] graduates to the Power House he begins to imbibe the spirit of service and to learn that he has responsibilities, both to himself and to others. A building in the Albert Park [.] where boys are able to meet again and renew old friendships, and thus lay a permanent foundation for the future.

    Working together in the common cause - to spread the spirit of the Camps throughout the community, to wipe out blind prejudice and to banish strife, class-consciousness and misunderstandings.

    After Doc McAdam
    'Doc' McAdam stepped down as Camp Chief in 1954, and at his final camp, the Governor, Sir Dallas Brooks, paid tribute to his work. The 1954 Annual meeting of Power House moved that

    'this annual meeting of Power House acknowledges with pride and admiration Dr Mc Adam's inspirational work and leadership for 25 years for Lord Somers' Camp and Power House. His loyal comradeship an selfless service will always be remembered while Power House exists. His ever cheerful and capable undertaking of onerous responsibilities far beyond the line of duty will be eagerly recalled when Power House men are gathered together.'

    Phil Roden, who had come to the Camp in 1933 from Melbourne Grammar, and went on to be a Slushie, Editor of Summer's Times 1939, and was a practising lawyer and served with the AIF, was chosen by Dr McAdam as his replacement. He served as Camp Chief from 1954 until 1959.

    Sporting Clubs in 1950s. - 'whilst they are a very important part of Power House, they are not the be all and end all of it.' Clubs included rugby athletics, hockey, basketball, AFL, rowing.

    Gareth Evans attended in 1961. New Power House clubhouse built at Albert Park Lake in 1963 - the McAdam House.

    References:

    Alan Gregory It's only the game that counts. 1994

    Barry Coldrey. Lord Somers Camp and Power House : the early years 1929-1939. 1993

    Barry M. Coldrey The Duke of York's Camp. 2001

    Plaque Citation

    LORD SOMERS CAMP - Plaque Citation

    Established by the then Governor of Victoria, Lord Somers, in 1929 and first held at this purpose-built site in 1931, the annual camps aimed to build understanding between boys of different backgrounds.

    Permit Exemptions

    LORD SOMERS CAMP - 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 works 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 works shall cease and Heritage Victoria shall be notified as soon as possible. Note: All archaeological places have the potential to contain significant sub-surface artefacts and other remains. In most cases it will be necessary to obtain approval from the Executive Director, Heritage Victoria before the undertaking any works that have a significant sub-surface component. General Conditions: 3. If there is a conservation policy and plan all works shall be in accordance with it. Note: A Conservation Management Plan or a Heritage Action 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 determination prevents the Executive Director from amending or rescinding all or any of the permit exemptions. General Conditions: 5. Nothing in this determination exempts owners or their agents from the responsibility to seek relevant planning or building permits from the responsible authorities where applicable. Minor Works : Note: Minor Works that in the opinion of the Executive Director will not adversely affect the heritage significance of the place may be exempt from the permit requirements of the Heritage Act. A person proposing to undertake minor works must submit a proposal to the Executive Director. If the Executive Director is satisfied that the proposed works will not adversely affect the heritage values of the site, the applicant may not be required to obtain a heritage permit.

    Landscape:
    The process of gardening, including mowing, hedge clipping, bedding displays, removal of dead plants and replanting the same species or cultivar, disease and weed control, and maintenance to care for existing plants.

    Removal of dead or dangerous trees if the tree is an immediate risk to personal safety or damage to property.

    Management of trees in accordance with Australian Standard; Pruning of amenity trees AS 4373.

    Repairs, conservation and maintenance to roads, paths, edges, fences and gates, drainage and irrigation systems.

    Non-commercial signage, lighting, security, fire safety and other safety requirements, provided no structural building occurs.

    Removal of vegetation to maintain fire safety and to conserve significant buildings and structures

    Interior:
    Painting of previously painted walls and ceilings provided that preparation or painting does not remove evidence of any original paint or other decorative scheme.

    Installation, removal or replacement of carpets and/or flexible floor coverings.

    Installation, removal or replacement of hooks, nails and other devices for the hanging of mirrors, paintings and other wall mounted art or religious works or icons.

    Installation, removal or replacement of electrical wiring.

    Installation of new fire hydrant services including sprinklers, fire doors and elements affixed to plaster surfaces.

    Permit Exemption Policy

    LORD SOMERS CAMP - Permit Exemption Policy

    DRAFT ONLY - NOT YET APPROVED BY THE HERITAGE COUNCIL

    The purpose of the Permit Policy is to assist when considering or making decisions regarding works to the place. It is recommended that any proposed works be discussed with an officer of Heritage Victoria prior to making a permit application. Discussing any proposed works will assist in answering any questions the owner may have and aid any decisions regarding works to the place. It is recommended that a Conservation Management Plan is undertaken to assist with the future management of the cultural significance of the place.

    The extent of registration protects the whole site. The addition of new buildings to the site may impact upon the cultural heritage significance of the place and requires a permit. The purpose of this requirement is not to prevent any further development on this site, but to enable control of possible adverse impacts on heritage significance during that process.

    The cultural heritage significance of the place lies is as an interwar youth camp, demonstrated by the site's bush setting, layout of buildings, parade ground and the two original buildings (B1 and B2). All of the registered buildings are integral to the significance of the place and any external or internal alterations that impact on its significance are subject to permit application.

• Location map
• Explore related places
  • Show:
    -- select -- Nearby Places Same era

  • 
    COOLART

    

    Victorian Heritage Register H0759
  • 
    Coolart Lagoon and Wetlands

    

    National Trust
  • 
    Somers RAAF Camp

    

    Vic. War Heritage Inventory

  • 
    'GUNYAH', FIRST CANTERBURY TROOP SCOUT HALL & CAMBERWELL NORTH GUIDE HALL

    

    Boroondara City
  • 
    'YARROLA'

    

    Boroondara City
  • 
    1 Bradford Avenue

    

    Boroondara City
• Public contributions