The former Repatriation Clinic: a place for veterans wellbeing.

“The building is exceptionally important. It tells an IMPORTANT story about the experiences of veterans and has strong connections with the veteran community.”
Simon Ambrose, National Trust (Vic) CEO, 2020

“The main reason it is important is its cultural CONNECTIONS;
the synergies of its placement and the historical place it is, that will enhance veterans wellbeing and save lives.”
Tanja Johnston, ANVAM Founder, 2020

Project History.

ANVAM Established. The vision to transform the former Repatriation Clinic was born in 2013, and from that ANVAM was founded. The Clinic’s history, size, location and availability make it ideal to be a national arts and cultural institution celebrating veterans creativity, facilitating veterans telling their stories and as centre of arts based wellbeing for the veteran community. Discussions with the Department of Defence in 2013 concluded that a lease was not viable due to refurbishment costs and claims from the department’s Joint Health Command that there is no value of the arts for veterans’ health and wellbeing. Just two years later in 2015 Defence established a twice yearly residential multi-medium arts based recovery program consistent with the program ANVAM had described to Defence in 2013 as part of its vision for the former Clinic.

Engagement. On the basis that it was unable to offer support, Defence advised ANVAM to approach Government to pursue this vision for the former Clinic. On behalf of the veteran community ANVAM has engaged with ministers responsible for the Defence Estate including Hon Stuart Robert MP, Hon Dan Tehan MP, Hon Michael McCormack MP, Senator Hon David Fawcett, Senator Hon Linda Reynolds CSC, Hon Darren Chester MP, Hon Melissa Price MP and Hon Matt Thistlethwaite MP.

Centenary of World War 1. During the Centenary of World War 1, in 2016, the Federal Government agreed to support the off-market concessional sale to the Victorian State Government or Melbourne City Council. At the same time the Australian Labor Party announced its policy to support ANVAM’s vision with $10m funding support should it win the 2016 election. The State Government elected not to pursue the off-market sale in 2019.

Melbourne Council. Melbourne, Lord Mayor, Rt Hon Sally Capp, indicated in 2020 that Melbourne City Council may consider acquiring the property on a concessional basis in support of the veteran community and ANVAM’s vision for the property. At its October 2021 meeting Council resolved not to make an offer for the clinic citing the level of deterioration due to low maintenance levels making the risk too high for Council.

Anything but…. Following Melbourne City Council’s decision to decline to acquire the Clinic the Minister, Hon Melissa Price MP, announced on 17 February 2022 the property was no longer surplus without an idea of what it would be used for. The Department undertook an options study for adaptive reuse of the clinic by commissioning heritage architect firm Lovell Chen. The Department indicated the best use it can identify is meeting rooms. Despite the strong community support for ANVAM’s proposal it was sidelined as an option to be considered with meeting rooms and childcare the only suggestions considered.

The Government undertook $5million of remediation works in 2022 to resolve issues of water ingress causing considerable damage greatly reducing the funding required to complete ANVAM’s remediation of the property once in its control.

During 2022 the new Albanese Labor Government came to power. Invitations to the new Government to honour its 2016 promise were not taken up. During the election campaign ANVAM was informed that the proposal was not supported by the ALP as an election promise because it was for a ‘museum’ despite other new museum’s receiving funding commitments from the ALP. Reassurances were offered that despite this, it would be supported once the ALP was in office.

Following the Defence Strategic Review (DSR) of 2022/23 the Government commissioned an Independent Defence Estate Audit in August 2023, to which ANVAM was required to re-submit its evidence of its sustainability to operate from the building. ANVAM provided this evidence and then met with the Estate Audit for half an hour on 14 December 2023. It was described to the Audit in the presentation and brief how the proposal would deliver in support of the DSR objectives including National Defence and National Resilience through support for current and ex-serving veterans, Defence’s people capability including recruiting, retention and the new cultural blueprint, veterans mental, physical and social health and wellbeing, veterans employment, the Governments REVIVE cultural policy, Creative Australia’s arts and health agenda and Foreign Affairs cultural diplomacy program.

Consultation & Support.

An advisory committee has supported ANVAM to advise ARM Architecture in the development of a concept design for 310 St Kilda Rd. Committee members include:

• Chair - Dominik Kul (ANVAM Board Member & Head of Operations)

• Dr Graeme Blackman AO (former National & State President National Trust)

• John Castles AM (past President Royal Australian Institute of Architects)

• Robin Grow (President Australian Art Deco & Modernist Association)

• Tanja Johnston (ANVAM Founder, Heard of Arts Programs & Visual Arts)

• Bruce Copland (ANVAM Curator)

• Emma Jackson (Performing Arts)

• Michael Godfrey (ANVAM Secretary, Technology)

• Observers - Melbourne City Council

ANVAM will use the concept design as a basis for consultation with the veteran and veteran arts community, to further mature the vision for a veterans’ cultural institution in the Melbourne Arts Precinct.

“It is probably the BEST SITE in town for an interface between a practicing artist and the community.”
Prof Ian McDougall, ARM Architecture, 2020