A loss we'll feel for generations to come
February 15 2002

The loss of the historic hospital at the Quarantine Station last week will be felt by people for generations to come.

Not only did an old hospital go up in flames, but so too did a vital piece of Australia's colonial history.

With the fiery destruction of the H1 building comes the question of how greatly we value our dwindling heritage.

Award-winning Sydney architect Richard Leplastrier said the loss of the historic hospital building amounted to loss of "common wealth", for, he said, that was what Commonwealth meant.

Leplastrier's career has been mostly channeled towards domestic architecture. He has designed about 25 hourses. He also has a passion for sailing and has designed a number of lightweight timber boats and the Ben Lexcen Trophy for the world 18ft skiff title.

The architect was devastated by the news: "this was a really beautiful building, originally designed for people's well-being - people in tough circumstances."

He said the building's destruction was akin to "losing a great friend".

Leplastrier, an advocate for heritage causes around the harbour, felt properties like the H1 were finite resources that, once gone, could not be replaced.

"This hospital stood at the maritime threshold of the city," he said.

Leplastier has championed the value of heritage properties especially those which could still play a part in our everyday lives.

"I'm interested in the public use of heritage property, not private or exclusive use."

It was a sentiment echoed by Friends of Quarantine Station chairwoman, Manly counciller Sue Sacker.

She said she believed the area could still be "lots of fun" for people and that any future plans should involve integration with all of North Head to work as an entity.

"There is a good conference centre and day and night (ghost) tours are hard to get on because they're so popular," she said.

"Because of its sugnificance in the interpretation of the site, I think the hospital must be rebuilt."

But the hospital and the third-class migrants' accommodation building, which burned down last October, were not the only things of importance at the station.

Sacker said the site remained steeped in history with more than 500 graves, three cemeteries and scores of signatures (graffiti) carved into the foundations.

But she urged that access remain limited because of endangered species of flora and fauna.

"It is a fragile site," she said. "You can't open it up completely."

NSW Heritage Office director Rosalind String said the Heritage Council and the Heritage Office were working on a proposal for the site and the fire would obviously affect that proposal, "Quarantine Station was listed on the State Heritage Register because of its significance to the people of NSW," she said. "It was listed for us to enjoy it more."

She said everybody at the Heritage Office was extremely saddened by the loss.

Leplastrier felt the building was special for a variety of reasons. He had visited the site many times.

He referred to his sadness at the loss when he openened an art exhibition at the NSW Art Gallery last Friday - the morning after the fire.

In his address at the Lloyd Rees exhibition, Leplastrier recalled his despair, looking at the morning paper as he sat on the ferry from Neutral Bay to the city.

Each stone in the setting is important," he said after the opening.

"It's like a family. You can't lose a child and say, 'It's okay because there are 10 more',".