Janet Clarke Hall

57-63 Royal Parade, Parkville

Heritage Council Registrations Committee

Members –Ursula de Jong (Chair), Peter Sagar, Patricia Vejby

Decision of the Heritage Council

After considering the Executive Director’s recommendation and submissions received, pursuant to Section 42(1)(a) of theHeritage Act 1995the Heritage Council has determined that the place is of cultural heritage significance to the State of Victoria and should be included in the Heritage Register.

Ursula de Jong (Chair) / Peter Sagar / Patricia Vejby

Decision Date –30 July 2014

submissions

Written submissions were received from:

  • Executive Director, Heritage Victoria
  • Mr Barry O’Connor, on behalf of the University of Melbourne

The Place (‘the Place’)

1Janet Clarke Hall is a three storey brick residential College of the University of Melbourne. The building includes four wings; Main Wing (1891), Manifold Wing (1927), Traill Wing (1929), Joske Wing (1956), and a tennis court to the rear.

Nominations

2On 26 November 2013 the Executive Director, Heritage Victoria nominated Janet Clarke Hall for inclusion in the Victorian Heritage Register (‘the Register’).

Recommendation of the Executive Director

3On 17 January 2014, the Executive Director recommended that Janet Clarke Hall be included in the Register.

Submissions

4One submission from the University of Melbourne was receivedpursuant to s38(1) of the Heritage Act 1995 (‘the Act’) in response to the Executive Director’s recommendation. The submission received objected to the inclusion of the tennis court as being of ‘primary heritage significance’.

5In a letter dated 28 March 2014 the Committee sought comment from the Executive Director on the content of the submission. On 1 April 2014 correspondence was received from the Executive Director which addressed the issue raised in the s38 submission.

6As no parties requested to be heard the Heritage Council Registrations Committee (‘the Committee’) determined that a hearing was not required and the matter was referred to a meeting of the Registrations Committee.

7In a letter dated 4 April 2014 the Committee provided parties with the opportunity to make any further submissions in response to the material received. None were received.

8A Registration Committee meeting was held on 13 May 2014.

Further Information

9On 14 May 2014 the Committee requested further information from the Executive Director regarding the inclusion of the Place under Criterion D.

10The Committee received correspondence from the Executive Director on 20 May 2014. The correspondence was not circulated as it did not affect the Committee’s decision.

Summary of Issues

11This section is not intended to be a complete record of submissions that were made. It is a summary of what the Committee considers to be the key issues relating to cultural heritage significance, followed by an explanation of the position the Committee takes on each issue.

12Any reference to Criteria refers to the ‘Heritage Council Criteria for Assessment of Places of Cultural Heritage Significance’ (refer Attachment 1).

Issues

13In his recommendation the Executive Director submitted that ‘Janet Clarke Hall is of architectural and historical significance to the State of Victoria’. It is his view that the Place satisfies Criterion A, B, D and H for inclusion in the Register.

14The Executive Director submitted that the Place satisfies Criterion A as it is the ‘first university college in Victoria, and in Australia, built solely for female students’. He is of the view that the site is historically significant.

15The Executive Director submitted that the Place satisfies Criterion B as a unique example of the establishment of a university college built solely for females and that other ‘similar women’s colleges were not established in other Australian states until the early mid-twentieth century’.

16The Executive Director submitted that the Place satisfies Criterion D as ‘an outstanding example of a nineteenth century Gothic Revival style institutional building and of a residential university college’.

17The Executive Director stated that the Place satisfies Criterion H for its association with prominent Victorians Dr Alexander Leeper and Janet Lady Clarke and for its association with major Melbourne architects and architectural firms,

18In his written submission Mr O’Connor, on behalf of the University of Melbourne, objected to the inclusion of the tennis court as being of ‘primary heritage significance’. Mr O’Connor submitted that verbal accounts from a Janet Clarke Hall Council member and minutes from a meeting of the Janet Clarke Hall Council suggest the tennis court was moved and rebuilt. He is of the view that the tennis court ‘does not contain any of the original tennis court fabric’ and ‘is not located in the position of the original tennis court’. Mr O’Connor requested that the tennis court be listed as being of ‘contributory heritage significance.

19In response to Mr O’Connor’s submission the Executive Director agreed that little of the original tennis court fabric remains however he is of the view that it should still be considered to be of primary significance for its historical importance. The Executive Director submitted that the tennis court reflects the ‘activities considered appropriate for young women at the time’ and that the establishment of a court within the grounds signifies the importance of providing suitable onsite recreational facilities for the female students. It is the Executive Director’s view that the lack of original fabric in the tennis court is acknowledged through the provision of permit exemptions for the site.

20The Executive Director also contested Mr O’Connor’s claims that the tennis court is no longer in its original position stating that ‘the 1897 MMBW plan (shown in the Assessment Report) shows the tennis court in its current location and no evidence has been produced indicating where and how the relocation works occurred’.

Conclusion

21The Committee supports the Executive Director’s recommendation and is of the view that Janet Clarke Hall is of cultural heritage significance to the State of Victoria and should be included in the Victorian Heritage Register.

22The Committee was not persuaded by the evidence provided that the tennis court had been relocated and is of the view that, despite the lack of original fabric, the tennis court demonstrates historical significance to the State of Victoria as a reflection of the appropriate recreational activities for young women at the time and should remain of ‘primary heritage significance’.

23The Committee concurs with the Executive Director’s submission and finds that Criterion A, B, and H have been satisfied and that Janet Clarke Hall is of cultural heritage significance as the first and a unique example of a university college built exclusively for women in Victoria and for its association with prominent Victorians and Victorian architectural firms.

24In regards to Criterion D the Committee is of the view thatJanet Clarke Hall is of cultural heritage significance to the State of Victoria for its architectural importance. The Committee disagree with the wording of the Executive Director’s statement that the Place is ‘an outstanding example of a nineteenth century Gothic Revival style institutional building and of a residential university college’. The Committee is of the view that the statement should read that the Place is ‘a fineexample of an eclectic late nineteenth century Gothic Revival institutional building and of a residential university college’ as this provides a more accurate description of the class of place.

25It is noted that there is limited information provided on the Gothic Revival style and the Committee recommend that further research is undertaken on this architectural class to ensure that registrations are accurately described.

ATTACHMENT 1

HERITAGE COUNCIL CRITERIA FOR ASSESSMENT OF PLACES OF CULTURAL HERITAGE SIGIFICANCE

CRITERION A / Importance to the course, or pattern, of Victoria’s cultural history.
CRITERION B / Possession of uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of Victoria’s cultural history.
CRITERION C / Potential to yield information that will contribute to an understanding of Victoria’s cultural history.
CRITERION D / Importance in demonstrating the principal characteristics of a class of cultural places or objects.
CRITERION E / Importance in exhibiting particular aesthetic characteristics.
CRITERION F / Importance in demonstrating a high degree of creative or technical achievement at a particular period.
CRITERION G / Strong or special association with a particular community or cultural group for social, cultural or spiritual reasons. This includes the significance of a place to Indigenous peoples as part of their continuing and developing cultural traditions.
CRITERION H / Special association with the life or works of a person, or group of persons, of importance in Victoria’s history.

These were adopted by the Heritage Council at its meeting on 7 August 2008, and replace the previous criteria adopted by the Heritage Council on 6 March 1997.

ATTACHMENT 2

What is significant?

Janet Clarke Hall, a residential College of the University of Melbourne, including the 1891 main wing fronting Royal Parade, the 1927 Manifold Wing, the 1929 Traill Wing, the 1956 Joske Wing, the 1962 Scantlebury Wing and the tennis court at the rear.

History Summary

The University of Melbourne was founded in 1853 but accepted female students only from 1881. University residential colleges were established to the north of the university, with the first, Trinity College, opening in 1872. Trinity accepted women as non-resident members from 1883, but its first Principal, Alexander Leeper, became convinced of the need for a residential women’s college at the university. In 1886 he submitted a proposal for a women’s hostel on land in the north-west corner of the Trinity College grounds. The construction of the first building on the site, known as Trinity College Hostel (later the main wing of Janet Clarke Hall), was made possible by donations of £5,000 from Janet Lady Clarke, the wife of Sir William Clarke and a generous philanthropist, and of £2,000 from Sir Matthew Davies. The design of the architect Charles D’Ebro was chosen for the Hostel, it was built by Thomas Corley, and was opened by the Governor Lord Hopetoun on 15 April 1891. The tennis court, which provided recreation for the students, was built before 1897. The name of the Hostel was changed in 1921 to Janet Clarke Hall, to acknowledge the role played by Janet Lady Clarke in its establishment. In 1927 a bequest from the pastoralist William Manifold made possible the construction of a new wing to the south-east, designed by the architects Blackett & Foster and built by Thompson & Chalmers. The Traill Wing to the north, named after the former student and major donor Elsie Traill and designed by the architectural firm A & K Henderson, was added in 1930. Another wing, designed by W Forsyth and built in 1954, was named after Enid Joske, a former student and the College Principal for twenty-five years. In 1961 Janet Clarke Hall broke its link with Trinity College and declared itself independent. The last major addition to the Hall was the LilianScantlebury Wing, named after the Hall Committee Chair and designed by Forsyth & Richardson, which was added at the end of the Traill Wing in 1962.

Description Summary

Janet Clarke Hall is a three storey red brick building with contrasting sandstone and stucco dressings, composed of five wings constructed over a period of approximately 70 years. These wings enclose on three sides a central courtyard planted with lawn and trees. The 1891 wing facing Royal Parade is the central portion of a never completed larger designand is a flamboyant interpretation of the Gothic Revival style. The Manifold Wing forming the southern side of the courtyard is a Collegiate Gothic style building with a castellated parapet. The Joske Wing links the Manifold wing with the original building. The Traill Wing to the north draws its inspiration from the manifold Wing, but the adjoining Scantlebury Wing is uncompromisingly modern in style, whilesympathetic in itsmaterials, height, scale and general appearance. Some early furnishings are retained in the building.

This site is part of the traditional land of the Kulin Nation.

How is it significant?

Janet Clarke Hallis of architectural and historical significance to the State of Victoria. It satisfies the following criterion for inclusion in the Victorian Heritage Register:

Criterion AImportance to the course, or pattern, of Victoria’s cultural history

Criterion B Possession of uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of Victoria’s cultural history

Criterion DImportance in demonstrating the principal characteristics of a class of cultural places and objects

Criterion HSpecial association with the life or works of a person, or group of persons, of importance in Victoria’s history.

Why is it significant?

Janet Clarke Hallis significant at the State level for the following reasons:

Janet Clarke Hall is historically significant as the first university college in Victoria, and in Australia, built solely for female students. It has provided residential, recreational and tutorial assistance for female students at the University of Melbourne since 1891. It is significant for its continuous use as a university college for over a century and for its role in the development of women’s tertiary education in Victoria. (Criterion A)

Janet Clarke Hall was unique in its foundation in Australia and was ground breaking in its establishment, as similar women’s colleges were not established in other Australian states until the early mid-twentieth century, and in Victoria until 1918. (Criterion B)

Janet Clarke Hall is an a fineexample of an eclectic late nineteenth century Gothic Revival institutional building and of a residential university college outstanding example of a nineteenth century Gothic Revival style institutional building and of a residential university college. (Criterion D)

Janet Clarke Hall is significant for its association with several prominent Victorians. These include its founder Dr Alexander Leeper, the first Warden of Trinity College, and Janet Lady Clarke, a supporter of many philanthropic, cultural and educational movements in nineteenth century Victoria, who made possible the construction of the main wing, and after whom the College is named. Janet Clarke Hall is also significant for its association with some of Melbourne’s major architects and architectural firms, including Charles D’Ebro, William Blackett and A & K Henderson. (Criterion H)

Janet Clarke Hallis also significant for the following reasons, but not at the State level:

Janet Clarke Hall is of local significance as a landmark in the Parkville area since the 1890s and for its long association with the University of Melbourne. It is associated with distinguished former students and scholars such asthe long-serving Principal Enid Joske,the Nobel Laureate Prof Elizabeth Blackburn, President oftheAustralian Human Rights Commission Prof Gillian Triggs, Chancellor of Sydney University Dame Leonie Kramer, Chancellor of Melbourne University Dr Fay Marles, Chancellor of La Trobe University Prof Adrienne Clarke and Vice-Chancellor of Deakin University Prof Sally Walker.

ATTACHMENT 3

EXTENT OF REGISTRATION

All of the place shown hatched on Diagram 2334 encompassing all of Lot 1 on Plan of Subdivision 406969.

ATTACHMENT 4

PERMIT POLICY

Preamble

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

The extent of registration of Janet Clarke Hall on the Victorian Heritage Register affects the whole place shown on Diagram 2334 including the land, all buildings, roads, trees, landscape elements and other features. Under the Heritage Act 1995 a person must not remove or demolish, damage or despoil, develop or alter or excavate, relocate or disturb the position of any part of a registered place or object without approval. It is acknowledged, however,that alterations and other works may be required to keep places and objects in good repair and adapt them for use into the future.

If a person wishes to undertake works or activities in relation to a registered place or registered object, they must apply to the Executive Director, Heritage Victoria for a permit. The purpose of a permitis to enable appropriate change to a place and to effectively manage adverse impacts on the cultural heritage significance of a place as a consequence of change. If an owner is uncertain whether a heritage permit is required, it is recommended that Heritage Victoria be contacted.

Permits are required for anything which alters the place or object, unless a permit exemption is granted. Permit exemptions usually cover routine maintenance and upkeep issues faced by owners as well as minor works. They may include appropriate works that are specified in a conservation management plan. Permit exemptions can be granted at the time of registration (under s.42 of the Heritage Act) or after registration (under s.66 of the Heritage Act).

It should be noted that the addition of new buildingsto the registered place, as well as alterations to the interior and exterior of existing buildingsrequires a permit, unless a specific permit exemption is granted.

Conservation management plans

Lovell Chen’s ‘Janet Clarke Hall, The University of Melbourne, Royal Parade, Parkville’, Conservation Management Plan, dated December 2006 (Revised April 2007) may provide guidance for the future management of the place. It should be noted that all parts of the College building are included in the Registration and permits must be obtained for all works apart from those for which exemptions have been given.

Cultural heritage significance

Overview of significance

The cultural heritage significance of Janet Clarke Halllies in its importance as the first residential college for women in Australia. The main wing is an outstanding example of the Gothic Revival style applied to an institutional building, and the later wings differ in style but are sympathetic in their use of materials, their scale and general form. The building clearly demonstrates the various periods of construction, both externally and internally, and all wings are considered to be of primary significance as a demonstration of the history of the College. The tennis court at the rear has been in its present location since the 1890s, and is of historical significance as an important early feature and a very early example of its kind in Victoria, though it is unlikely that any original fabric remains.