Battle to save former Thornleigh hospital fails but the council to rename park

DESCENDANTS of nurse Jane Starkey Dawes may not have been able to save her community hospital from the bulldozer but her name will continue to live.

A general view of 22 Bellevue Street in Thornleigh, Sydney, Tuesday, July 10, 2018. (AAP Image/Joel Carrett)

DESCENDANTS of nurse Jane Starkey Dawes may not have been able to save her community hospital from the bulldozer but her name will continue to live.

Residents battled to save the former hospital at 22 Bellevue St, Thornleigh — arguing it held historic significance as Hornsby’s original hospital. However, an extraordinary meeting of Hornsby Council this week sealed the property’s fate.

The council approved a $3.9 million development application for a residential apartment building at the site but said it would rename Dawson Avenue Parkland at Thornleigh in Ms Starkey Dawes’ honour.

A colourised picture of Jane Starkey (closest to the road) and Florence Holland taken in the 1930’s

“The revised heritage assessment identifies that nurse Jane Starkey Dawes used the house as a form of respite home for children from poorer inner city suburbs and built a wing on the house to accommodate and entertain the children,” Hornsby Mayor Philip Ruddock said.

Cr Ruddock also moved a motion to allow the descendants of Ms Starkey Dawes to inspect the property and collect keepsakes.

Descendant Tara Ormsby said she appreciated the council’s push to recognise the work of the pioneer.

“Hindsight provides us the vision to see that this was a matter that should have been dealt with many years ago by previous heritage committees,” she said.

“It also shows that there is a general lack of awareness in the community about how and why houses of this era and significance can be heritage listed.”

Ms Ormsby said she was glad the developers showed they were willing to work with the family to honour her great-great aunt.

Thornleigh Heritage Hospital House member Christopher Russell poses for a photo outside 22 Bellevue Street in Thornleigh, Sydney, Tuesday, July 10, 2018. (AAP Image/Joel Carrett)

Save Thornleigh Hospital member Christopher Russell welcomed the council’s decision to rename the park.

“Under the previous council, not enough was done to protect heritage houses,” he said. Mr Russell said more should be done to identify former owners of historic homes.

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