Willow Court (Former Military Hospital Royal Derwent Hospital)

Why is it Significant? 

Integral part of one of Tasmania’s three great colonial institutions. Earliest surviving example of convict hospital built in distinctive Colonial Georgian Palladian barracks style “Frescatti”. Includes rare building methods, such as brick nogging and 19C pre-fabricated timber Hall. Subject to vandalism and theft including original Blackwood staircase being used for skateboarding. Originally built as a picturesque villa designed by John Lee Archer, Willow Court is the earliest building in the Willow Court precinct which is part of the larger Royal Derwent Hospital. Retaining many original classic colonial features, it still has potential to be adapted to viable commercial or government use.

Why is it at Risk?

Willow Court is a nationally significant complex of buildings located at New Norfolk requiring the immediate implementation of a conservation plan. The site at present continues to deteriorate at an alarming rate due to neglect and vandalism. In May of 2009, Derwent Valley Council disband the Willow Court Redevelopment Committee replacing it with an expanded body with increased community representation. The site includes an intact convict building older than Port Arthur which has failed to become a prominent tourist attraction due to funding issues. Commencing in 2004, Derwent Valley Council developed an integrated series of Conservation Management Plans approved by the Tasmanian Heritage Council to guide the redevelopment of the site. Derwent Valley Council has spent in excess of $1.6M learning about the site, its infrastructure, built heritage attributes, landscape and history as well as expenditure on such things as conservation management plans, security, general repairs and sub division costs. Derwent Valley Council acknowledges the occurrence of extensive vandalism and damage which ahs been a result of broad knowledge of the site being progressively abandoned since 1978.

What needs to be done?

State Government support is needed to conserve Willow Court so that its heritage values are retained but which allow it to be adaptively re-used as a viable commercial or government undertaking.