Passchendale Barracks (Drill Hall)
84 MOLLISON STREET BENDIGO, Greater Bendigo City
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Statement of Significance
One of two built in Bendigo around the time of the First World War (and among only 18 survivors state-wide) Passchendaele Barracks is of considerable local significance for its long association with citizen soldiers in the Bendigo area and as a recruiting centre during two world wars.
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Veterans Description for Public
Passchendale Barracks (Drill Hall) - Veterans Description for Public
The Bendigo Passchendaele Barracks, at 84 Mollison Street, is one of two built in Bendigo around the time of the First World War (and among only eighteen survivors state-wide). Passchendaele Barracks is of considerable local significance for its long association with citizen soldiers in the Bendigo area and as a recruiting centre during the two world wars.
The introduction of Universal Training in 1911 by the relatively newly established Commonwealth government meant that all Australian men had to receive part-time military training. This decision meant that most country towns of reasonable size needed to have a drill hall. While there were already many such buildings already available in Victoria, which had a long tradition of volunteer militia, many new buildings were required immediately. Between 1912 and 1916, some forty new timber and corrugated iron drill halls were built in Victoria to a pattern adopted Australia-wide.
The design was by Commonwealth architect John Smith Murdoch, apparently developed from Queensland models. (Before Federation Murdoch was the Queensland government architect). The very first of these new type drill halls in Australia was constructed in Warragul Victoria. The Warragul one is now owned by the Shire of Baw Baw. All forty halls were essentially identical in design except that some were longer than others. They featured vertical corrugated iron cladding over a timber frame (except for Footscray which is horizontally laid), and distinctive semi-circular ridge vents characteristic of their Queensland origins.
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BENDIGO TOWN HALLVictorian Heritage Register H0117
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SPECIMEN COTTAGEVictorian Heritage Register H1615
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BENDIGO SCHOOL OF MINES (BENDIGO TAFE)Victorian Heritage Register H1505
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