Site Details

Name

Channel Island Leprosarium and Reefs

Status

Permanent Declaration

Type

Place

Description

The Leprosarium consists of the remains of numerous buildings and other infrastructure in the form of rusted galvanised iron, concrete slabs, partial wall and roof structures, collapsed ruins of huts and dwellings, and parts of the original road formations.

Statement Of
Heritage Value

The Channel Island Leprosarium was the site of a Quarantine Station, completed in September 1914, in the Northern Territory. It was one of four stations which were considered as "first-aid" or minor stations which were required to provide accommodation for all cases of actual quarantible disease likely to require action.
In 1930 a new Quarantine Station was opened on East Arm and Channel Island was converted to a Leprosarium. The Leprosarium is culturally significant as it provides a unique view of a compulsorily isolated group of people, existing under extreme physical and in some cases mental conditions. It also demonstrates the official policy of enforced segregation of diseased people. The ruins are evidence of the Quarantine requirements of the period including the segregation of inmates on the island. Its social significance is further enhanced by the fact that while the rest of the world was modifying its compulsory isolation laws, in Australia they were strengthened.

The natural environment of Channel Island is significant as a teaching site, for its geological features and mangroves and for the rocky reef with coral between the island and the mainland. The Channel Island Field Study Centre, the board walks through the mangroves, the geological features and the reef are all important teaching resources.

From an educational and research point of view the reef is a valuable resource because it demonstrates that a coral based community can survive in an area where most physical conditions are adverse if other conditions (such as strong currents) are met.

The Channel Island Reef is significant due to its relatively diverse coral community which is not consistent with its location well inside a large ria system characterised by substantial depression of salinity during the wet season, high turbidity and deep, fine muds over much of its area.

Nominated

Nomination Refused

Nomination Accepted

24/03/1993

Provisional Declaration

Assessment Report
Considered

Report Action

Comment sought

Report Comments

Recommended

Not Recommended

Refused By Minister

Referred Back

Signed By Minister

17/02/1997

Publish notice of
declaration

Gazetted

25/02/1997

Revoked

Destroyed

File No

H93/0025

Value

Historic, Indigenous & Natural

Conservation Policy

LGA

Un-Incorporated Area

Comments

Designated ntp's 4686(A) and 4850(A). NTG Gazette NO. S5, 25/2/1997.

Photo

	Name	Description	Date Added
View	ChannelIslandLeprosariumReefs 21016_LR1.JPG	Steps leading to the school (?) building	22/JUL/21
View	ChannelIslandLeprosariumReefs 21016_LR2.JPG	Concrete cistern. Immediately adjacent to the site are slabs for water tanks and remnants of a tank stand.	22/JUL/21
View	ChannelIslandLeprosariumReefs 21016_LR3.JPG	Afghan oven and chimney immediately adjacent to the Afghan accommodation	22/JUL/21
View	ChannelIslandLeprosariumReefs 21016_LR4.JPG	Jetty leading out into the harbour	22/JUL/21

1 - 4

Scan

	Name	Description	Date Added
View	Instrument.pdf	-	10/FEB/09

1 - 1

Further Information

	Name	Description	Date Added
View	Channel Island.pdf	Factsheet	13/DEC/11

1 - 1

Approximate Location

LAIS Key	Street Number	Street Name	Suburb	Location Code	Lot Number	LTO Plan	Part	Tenure
045 01791	1505	CHANNEL ISLAND	WICKHAM	045	1791	-	-	Crown Lease Perpetual

1 - 1

Status Explanations

Nomination Period - a nomination has been accepted by Heritage Branch, but has not yet been accepted by the Heritage Council; OR a nomination has been accepted by the Heritage Council but the place/object has not yet been subject to a heritage assessment.

Assessment Period - a nomination has been accepted by the Heritage Council and the place/object is in the process of being assessed.

Consultation Period - Heritage assessment has been completed and s24 of the Act has been instigated, ie comment has been sought on a proposal to declare the place/object.

Recommendation Period - the Heritage Council has made a recommendation to declare the place/object and the Minister's final decision is awaited.

Not Recommended - a decision has been made by the Heritage Council not to recommend to the Minister that a place/object be declared

Declared - the Minister has made a decision to declare the place/object

Refused - the Minister has refused to declare the place/object