Quarantine Station (fmr), Woodman Point

Statement of Significance

Quarantine Station (fmr) is a rare example of a quarantine station in Western Australia and played an important role for nearly 100 years in preventing the spread of contagious infections and diseases. Quarantine Station (fmr) demonstrates quarantine practices from the late 19th century to the 1970s and provides evidence of 19th century burial practices for those who died in quarantine. Quarantine Station (fmr) includes a substantial and intact complex of similarly designed and distinctive early 20th century buildings and is nestled in a picturesque natural coastal environment.

Physical Description

Land was reserved for a quarantine station at Woodman’s Point in 1876 and the first buildings were erected in 1886. They were added to and updated from time to time over the years, a major expansion taking place during World War I. The station finally closed in 1979. The Quarantine Station is set on a large area of land on Woodman Point. The majority of the buildings are asbestos clad with corrugated asbestos roofs. They are a basic design and very few have verandahs. Amongst the older buildings are some more modern structures which still maintain the simple uncluttered architecture of the original buildings. While the buildings hold an inherent technical interest, they also form a group in an attractive setting, close to the ocean with adjoining bushland. The bushland has been well protected by the restricted access to the site and this has added to its natural ecological value. There are a number of species of plants and animals which flourish undisturbed in the bushland. The buildings in the main complex are the accommodation blocks for passengers, seamen’s quarters, former residence for medical officer (now offices) and surgery, dining hall with attached kitchens, scullery, pantries, laundry, fumigation block, ablution block and a recreation building. Part of the stone fence which originally enclosed the central buildings remains on the south eastern side. At a little distance to the east from the central section is an enclosure containing the isolation hospital and a detention centre and to the northeast is a former medical officer's residence. In the central section there are also newer structures such as garages, sheds for machinery and plant and a house occupied by the caretaker, which is not in character with the original buildings. There is also a modern kitchen block which was designed sympathetically. The buildings and the grounds are well maintained. Notable features are the dining hall with its fine polished jarrah floor and timber ceiling, which has been painted white, the ablution block with its cubicles, and the fumigation block. Not to be forgotten are some graves of people who died while at the station. These are listed in the Lonely Graves of Western Australia reference. The grave markers range from headstones to simple wooden crosses.

History

Land was reserved for a quarantine station at Woodman Point in 1876. (In 1827, Stirling named the Point after Thomas Woodman, the purser of the Success). The first buildings of the Quarantine Station were erected in 1886 on advice from the medical authorities. The aim was to isolate plague sufferers from the mainstream of hospital patients at Fremantle. Those who died of contagious diseases at the Station were cremated in the crematorium which is well preserved to this day. The presence of the crematorium was quite unique at that time because cremation was still a very uncommon practice during the 1920s. It was considered against the doctrine of the resurrection of the body and reconciliation with the soul on the day of the Last Judgement. The crematorium was last used in 1943. Within the confines of the station are some graves. These are listed in ‘Lonely Graves of Western Australia’. One of the graves is that of Sister Rosa O’Kane the source of the name of O’Kane Court in Munster, the official address of the Quarantine Station. The existing complex of buildings was built in the post WWI period before 1923. All buildings have had their original exteriors replaced with asbestos cladding and roofing. The Station is of historical interest in that it played a great part in the public health system of WA for 100 years until it closed on 1979. Quarantine Stations as a class of institutions are in themselves relatively scarce in Australia. The station is one of a small number of examples of Federation and Western Australian immigration peculiarities. It can be regarded as evidence of a function no longer practised. The quarantine station is also of interest in its records of outbreaks of diseases such as scarlet fever, small pox, bubonic plague and Spanish influenza after WWI. In more recent years Vietnamese refugees landing on the Western Australian coast were held until cleared of possible health problems. The experience of the people detained in the station varied greatly. Some regarded it as a detention/concentration camp while others expressed a different opinion. Athol Thomas, a reporter for the West Australian in 1969, said the station was more like a holiday camp. He was referring to the 230 acres of bushland surrounding the station which included restricted water in which ‘guests’ could swim, fish and sail. The quarantine station was closed down as isolation could be done within local hospitals or at Fairfield in Victoria. The Woodman Point area was purchased from the Commonwealth Government for $2.5 million and vested in the Department of Youth, Sport and Recreation. The area is now used as a recreational camp.

Integrity/Authenticity

INTEGRITY: Many modifications but original buildings kept AUTHENTICITY: Original buildings replaced 1919-23

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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Last Update