32 BRISBANE STREET - MARRILAC HOUSE

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.