Edward Millen re-naming

The Town of Victoria Park is proposing to re-name Edward Millen Park and Edward Millen House to Elizabeth Baillie House and Elizabeth Baillie Park.

The proposal aims to better reflect this famous landmark’s local heritage and honour Elizabeth Baillie of Victoria Park who provided a valuable service to the community.

Project background

Located on Hill View Terrace and Albany Highway in East Victoria Park, the Edward Millen Precinct is a 4.7ha site comprising Edward Millen Park and the heritage-listed Edward Millen House and surrounding buildings.

In 2019, the Town partnered with the community to develop a master plan for the Edward Millen precinct and approved a business case for redevelopment of Edward Millen House and adjacent buildings.

In 2020, The Town held an open public tender process calling for proposals to develop the Edward Millen precinct.

At the 18 May 2021 Council Meeting, Blackoak Capital Ventures were selected as the preferred applicant. The redevelopment will see Blackoak Capital Ventures invest approximately $12 million into bringing the site to life.

The redevelopment of the Edward Millen precinct is one of the most exciting and promising projects happening at the Town, and aims to preserve the full potential of the heritage-listed buildings and maximise community benefit of the area.

Before redevelopment commences, we would like to take this opportunity to propose a new name for Edward Millen House and Edward Millen Park.

Edward Millen and Elizabeth Baillie

Built in 1912, Edward Millen House has a long history of providing health care to the community. The site was originally used as a maternity hospital, providing women with an alternative to home birth in the early 1900s.

The site was originally named the Rotunda Maternity Hospital and was established by Elizabeth Baillie, who was a nurse and a midwife.

Elizabeth Baillie was born in Scotland, but she trained as a midwife in Melbourne and was registered as a midwife in WA in October 1911. Her registration as a midwife came shortly after the Health Act was passed, meaning she was among the first group of midwives registered in Western Australia.

The Rotunda Maternity Hospital operated from 1912 until 1919. When the Spanish Flu pandemic hit Perth, Elizabeth Baillie was forced to hand over the hospital to the State Government, who repurposed the site to treat infected soldiers returning from WWI.

The following year, the Commonwealth Government acquired the Rotunda Maternity Hospital, and in 1924 renamed it in honour of the first Minister for Repatriation – Edward Millen.

Edward Millen was born in England and migrated to New South Wales in 1880, where he worked as a journalist and later became the Minister for Repatriation after entering politics.

Since the Spanish Flu, Edward Millen House has been used for a variety of medical purposes but still carries the name given by the Commonwealth in 1924.

In 2006, ownership of Edward Millen House was transferred to the Town of Victoria Park.

Before restoration and redevelopment works commence, we would like to propose re-naming the historic landmark to better reflect it's heritage.

The Town invites you to share your thoughts on our proposal to re-name Edward Millen House and Edward Millen Park to Elizabeth Baillie House and Elizabeth Baillie Park.

Community consultation is just one of many steps involved in the re-naming process, and the Town greatly appreciates your input before we go any further.

How can I provide feedback?

• Fill out our online survey, available below
• Email us at admin@vicpark.wa.gov.au
• Call us on 9311 8111
• Write to us at Town of Victoria Park, Locked Bag No. 437, Victoria Park WA 6979

Feedback is invited until: Thursday 15 July 2021

More information

For more information, please contact the Town on admin@vicpark.wa.gov.au or call us on 9311 8111.