FORMER MELBOURNE VETERINARY COLLEGE
38-40 BRUNSWICK STREET FITZROY, YARRA CITY
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Statement of Significance
What is significant?
The Former Melbourne Veterinary College, 38-40 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy is a two storey brick building constructed in 1886 as an animal hospital and veterinary college by WT Kendall, who is known as the founder of veterinary science in Australia. The animal hospital operated from 1886 to 1928. The college, the first in Australia, operated from 1888 to 1909 when it was taken over by the University of Melbourne and moved to a site in Parkville. Signage on the facade of the building reads: "Hospital for Horses, Dogs, etc." and 'Melbourne Veterinary College". A plaster horse head is placed over the entrance.
How is it significant?
The Former Melbourne Veterinary College is of historical, scientific and architectural significance to the State of Victoria.
Why is it significant?
The Former Melbourne Veterinary College is historically and scientifically significant as the site of the first animal hospital and veterinary college in Victoria and for its association with WT Kendall, the founder of veterinary science in Australia and an important figure in the history of science in this country. It is historically important as the first animal hospital and veterinary training institute in Victoria. It is associated with the history and practice of veterinary education in Victoria and with important advances in the control of animal diseases in Victoria, such as with the first tuberculin testing of cattle which took place on the site in 1895.
The Former Melbourne Veterinary College is architecturally significant as a rare late nineteenth century building specifically designed as an animal hospital and training institute. While the building has been altered, enough evidence remains to demonstrate its use. It is the only site in Victoria which demonstrates the training of veterinary surgeons in the late nineteenth century.
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FORMER MELBOURNE VETERINARY COLLEGE - History
Contextual History:
Veterinary Science in Victoria
In the 1880s there were no more than four trained veterinary surgeons in Melbourne and there was a great need for research and treatment of animal diseases. Horses were still the primary means of transport, so the treatment of equine disease was very important. No system existed for the inspection and testing of livestock to protect public health, and no training facilities for veterinary surgeons had been set up.
William Tyson Kendall
William Tyson Kendall (1851-1936) arrived in Melbourne in 1880 to practice as a veterinary surgeon. He was born and educated in England and graduated from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, London, in 1873. He practised in the Lake District for six years before deciding to migrate to New Zealand. En route, he stopped in Melbourne where he decided to stay and set up practice. (Kendall Papers, University of Melbourne Archives)
Kendall founded the first Veterinary Association in Australia in 1880. In 1881, he assisted Graham Mitchell F.R.C/V/S. to establish the Calf Lymph Depot at Royal Park. In 1881 he was appointed the co-editor of the Victorian Veterinary Journal and published a monograph entitled The Diseases of Australian Horses in 1884. He was responsible for the establishment of a Board of Inquiry into the Prevalence of Tuberculosis in Cattle in Victoria in 1884-85.
Kendall was largely responsible for lobbying the government to introduce the Veterinary Surgeons Bill of 1887, which he drafted and which provided for the registration of qualified veterinary surgeons. Subsequently, after failing to convince the Melbourne City Council and State government to found a publicly funded veterinary training institute, he decided to establish one himself at great personal expense.
Kendall remained in the forefront of veterinary science in the State. He became President of the Veterinary Board of Victoria and held the position from 1897 to 1906 and 1912 to 1924. In 1901 an outbreak of anthrax near Geelong was proved by Kendall to be due to feeding imported bone meal to cattle. (Kendall Papers) The college he founded operated until 1909 when it was taken over by the University of Melbourne and transferred to Parkville where Kendall continued to teach until 1918. He graduated D.V.Sc from the University of Melbourne in 1909. From 1914 he was sub-director of the Stock Diseases Research Institute. An oration was named in his honour in Canberra in 1930.
History of Place:
Kendall purchased the property in Brunswick Street in 1885 and built a large Veterinary Hospital with a view to providing clinical training for prospective students. The plans were drawn by Jack Smith, a carpenter with a certificate in architectural drawing. As a hospital, it was not immediately successful and Kendall failed to attract enough patients. To overcome this, Kendall said later he “was compelled to buy most of my patients “ in the first few months. He chose to buy horses that had a good chance of recovery and then re-sold them when they were well, sometimes back to the original owners. In this way, he established his reputation and owners began to trust him with their animals. The hospital was officially opened on 17 June 1886 and had a professional staff of five and could cater for 60 cases at a time. In the first ten years over 6000 cases passed through the hospital. Kendall was the consulting and visiting surgeon, R.T. Gun was the honorary surgeon and dispenser, A. Nicholson the secretary, Hugh Mount, the foreman farmer and H. White the foreman farrier to the branch forge in Stephen Street. Free clinics were given at the hospital for persons unable to pay fees for the treatment of their animals and concessions were granted to members of the Cab Drivers’ Union. The Hospital was gazetted as a quarantine station for imported dogs.
The Veterinary College opened in January 1888 in accordance with the Veterinary Surgeons’ Act of Victoria.(Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science Meeting 1913 Report of Proceedings of Section K, vol.14, p.703-W.T. Kendall. ‘Notes on the Early History of the Veterinary Profession in Victoria’.) It took six students to begin with and received no government assistance. During the first years, the students went to the College of Pharmacy for Chemistry and Botany. The other subjects were taught on the premises. The Veterinary College then consisted of a lecture hall, library, chemical laboratory, dispensary, students’ room, hospital, farriery and offices. By 1904 there were 40 students and many graduates of the college took government appointments in Australia and South Africa. The college operated on the site until 1909-10 when it was taken over by the University of Melbourne and transferred to Parkville where Kendall continued to teach. The animal hospital continued to operate on the Brunswick Street site until 1928 and Kendall and his son Hector conducted a veterinary practice there. In 1928, Hector Kendall built a residence and veterinary surgery at no. 36 Brunswick Street.FORMER MELBOURNE VETERINARY COLLEGE - Plaque Citation
The Former Melbourne Veterinary College
The first veterinary college and animal hospital in Victoria was established in 1888 by William Tyson Kendall (1851-1936). The college, the first in Australia, operated here until 1909 and the animal hospital until 1928.
FORMER MELBOURNE VETERINARY COLLEGE - Assessment Against Criteria
a. The historical importance, association with or relationship to Victoria's history of the place or object
The Former Melbourne Veterinary College is historically important as the first animal hospital and veterinary training institute in Victoria Former It is associated with the history and practice of veterinary education in Victoria and with important advances in the control of animal diseases in Victoria, such as with the first tuberculin testing of cattle which took place on the site in 1894.
The importance of a place or object in demonstrating rarity or uniqueness
The Former Melbourne Veterinary College is the only site in Victoria which demonstrates the training of veterinary surgeons in the late nineteenth century.c.The place or object's potential to educate, illustrate or provide further scientific investigation in relation to Victoria's cultural heritage
d.The importance of a place or object in exhibiting the principal characteristics or the representative nature of a place or object as part of a class or type of places or objects
e.The importance of the place or object in exhibiting good design or aesthetic characteristics and/or in exhibiting a richness, diversity or unusual integration of features
f. The importance of the place or object in demonstrating or being associated with scientific or technical innovations or achievements
g.The importance of the place or object in demonstrating social or cultural associations
Former Melbourne Veterinary College is strongly associated with W.T. Kendall , who is widely acknowledged as the founder of veterinary science in Australia,. and with his work in establishing the first veterinary training institute.h.Any other matter which the Council deems relevant to the determination of cultural heritage significance
FORMER MELBOURNE VETERINARY COLLEGE - 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 endorsed by the Executive Director, all works shall be in accordance with it. Note: The existence of a Conservation Management Plan or a Heritage Action Plan endorsed by the Executive Director, Heritage Victoria 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.Exterior:
Minor repairs and maintenance which replaces like fabric with like.
Removal of extraneous items such as air conditioners, pipe work, ducting, wiring, antennae, aerials etc, and making good.
Installation and repairing of damp proofing by either injection method or grout pocket method.
Installation or removal of external fixtures and fittings such as, hot water services and taps.
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 curtain tracks, rods and blinds.
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.
Demolition or removal of non-original stud/partition walls, suspended ceilings or non-original wall linings (including plasterboard, laminate and Masonite), bathroom partitions and tiling, sanitary fixtures and fittings, kitchen wall tiling and equipment, lights, built-in cupboards, cubicle partitions, computer and office fitout and the like.
Removal or replacement of non-original door and window furniture including, hinges, locks, knobsets and sash lifts.
Installation of stud walls, which are removable.
Refurbishment of existing bathrooms, toilets and kitchens including removal, installation or replacement of sanitary fixtures and associated piping, mirrors, wall and floor coverings.
Removal of tiling or concrete slabs in wet areas provided there is no damage to or alteration of original structure or fabric.
Installation, removal or replacement of ducted, hydronic or concealed radiant type heating provided that the installation does not damage existing skirtings and architraves and that the central plant is concealed.
Installation, removal or replacement of electrical wiring.
Installation, removal or replacement of electric clocks, public address systems, detectors, alarms, emergency lights, exit signs, luminaires and the like on plaster surfaces.
Installation, removal or replacement of bulk insulation in the roof space.
Installation of plant within the roof space.
Installation of new fire hydrant services including sprinklers, fire doors and elements affixed to plaster surfaces.
Minor Works : Note:
Any 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 may 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 be exempted from the requirement to obtain a heritage permit. If an applicant is uncertain whether a heritage permit is required, it is recommended that the permits co-ordinator be contacted.
Regular Site Maintenance :
The following site maintenance works are permit exempt under section 66 of the Heritage Act 1995,a) regular site maintenance provided the works do not involve the removal or destruction of any significant above-ground features or sub-surface archaeological artefacts or deposits;
b) the maintenance of an item to retain its conditions or operation without the removal of or damage to the existing fabric or the introduction of new materials;
c) cleaning including the removal of surface deposits, organic growths, or graffiti by the use of low pressure water and natural detergents and mild brushing and scrubbing; d) repairs, conservation and maintenance to plaques, memorials, roads and paths, fences and gates and drainage and irrigation.
e) the replacement of existing services such as cabling, plumbing, wiring and fire services that uses existing routes, conduits or voids, and does not involve damage to or the removal of significant fabric.
Note: Surface patina which has developed on the fabric may be an important part of the item's significance and if so needs to be preserved during maintenance and cleaning.
Note: Any new materials used for repair must not exacerbate the decay of existing fabric due to chemical incompatibility, obscure existing fabric or limit access to existing fabric for future maintenance. Repair must maximise protection and retention of fabric and include the conservation of existing details or elements.FORMER MELBOURNE VETERINARY COLLEGE - Permit Exemption Policy
The purpose of the Permit Policy is as a guide only in assisting 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 them being undertaken or a permit is applied for.
The purpose of the permit exemptions is to allow works that do not impact on the heritage significance of the place to occur without the need for a permit. Works other than those mentioned in the permit exemptions may be possible but will require either the written approval of the Executive Director or permit approval.
It is important that any proposed changes to the place are considered on the basis of clearly defined plans and must be carried out in a manner which prevents damage to the significant fabric of the registered place. It is recommended that before any proposed changes are undertaken the Conservation Management Plan [CMP] for the building is undertaken.
It is the purpose of the permit exemptions to recognise the significance of the Brunswick Street facade of the building with its lettering announcing its original purpose, the original carriage-width entrance, the front offices and residence, the mezzanine floor on the south side with its remaining timber ceiling boards and ventilators and small timber partitioned space at the eastern end of the mezzanine, and the form of the roof (although reconstructed).
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