Calls to save Darwin's Old Bagot Hospital

[Antipodean Andy]

Calls to protect Old Bagot Hospital - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) - interesting comment about Singapore. Haven't really thought about that.

The National Trust of Australia says an historic Darwin hospital, which was vital during World War Two, risks being destroyed.

The Old Bagot Hospital was designed by noted architect Beni Burnett and used during the Second World War to treat people injured during air raids.

The Territory Government is calling for tenders to demolish the building because it poses a health risk.

Jan Hills, the trust's Territory branch president, says she has wrote to the Heritage Minister Len Kiely earlier this year asking him to protect the site.

"When Darwin was bombed in February 1942, that hospital was used a first point, was used for the casualties to be taken there.

"We don't want to be a repetition of Singapore which destroyed all its history and then set about re-creating it."

The independent member for Nelson, Gerry Wood, also wants the hospital saved.

Mr Wood says the Government does not have sufficient grounds to demolish the building, and is ignoring the fact that its listed on the Register of National Estate.

He says Darwin's history is disappearing.

"A lot of its gone - things like the old powerhouse was pulled down. Nothing has been built there. Our nursing quarters has been pulled down, we're slowly losing a lot of these heritage sites that are important for our city.

"I think the Government should be doing its darnedest and should be proactive in these places being retained. Otherwise we're going to become a city of no soul."

[Kyt]

The point about Singapore is well made. With so much effort being made in commemorating the Australian veterans, it would be a pity to lose such a tangible reminder of the war.