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| MARRILAC HOUSE |
The glass above the front door of 32
Brisbane Street reads “JM Pardey.” Dr James McImery Pardey's
obituary, published in The Examiner in August 1944 refers to
his move to 32 Brisbane Street around 1893, and confirms that he was
living elsewhere when he died. The article is well worth reading, as
Dr Pardey,Chad an interesting career, entwined with Launceston's
history.
After cancelling his plans to move to
the mainland, to deal with an outbreak of smallpox in 1887, he worked
in a variety of roles including surgeon superintendent at the General
Hospital, medical officer for the Gaol, a doctor in private practise
and as the City Medical Officer. As medical officer, his duties
included assessing whether or not particular dwellings were “suitable
for human habitation.” He clearly believed in a healthy lifestyle
- he was medical officer for the Northern Tasmanian Football
Association, a tennis competition was named for him, and he was a
bowler, angler and gardener. The Examiner mentions that his
“handwriting was excellent” - perhaps a little dig at the usual
stereotype.
Dr Pardey was a modern man – he was
one of the city's earliest motorists and had the phone connected to
the Brisbane Street House in November 1894 (the number was 157!).
The life of an early doctor would have been challenging. Certainly
there were financial rewards and social standing but there are
numerous newspaper reports of various calamities occurring in
Launceston at all hours of the day and night which ended with someone
being dispatched to fetch Dr Pardey. One gains the impression that
holidays out of town would have been essential!!
The house seems to invite a name.
Whilst Dr Pardy and his family lived there, and for some time later,
it was called “Lapoinya.” In the 1940s it was occupied by a Dr
John MacDonald and his family. There was a legal issue with a tennis
court at the rear of the building around this time, although its not
clear whether or not this was part of the original house.
I was fortunate enough to have stayed
in the house when it was “The Maldon” - which was somewhere
between a hotel and a B&B (and a great place to stay with two
active toddlers who could be taken to play in nearby City Park).
Other things were taking my attention at the time (!) but the amazing
pressed tin and ruby glass stayed in my mind.
The house has been reborn as “Marrilac
House”, and is now run by the St Vincent de Paul Society as
affordable accommodation for those who need to travel to Launceston
for medical care.
