First Hospital

The first Hospital Building was completed in November 1859 on the five acres granted by the New South Wales Colonial Government. The same Government granted £1500 for the building which, with additional public subscriptions, was built for £2179.

Designed by Charles Tiffin and principally constructed by McCormack & Crossley the building was a two storey brick building with a slate roof. The ground floor accommodated 13 patients; Matron’s office and bedroom; dispensary; servants’ room and storeroom, the top floor provided three 8 bed wards, Cellars provided additional storerooms. Ceilings were unlined. Candles and lamps provided lighting. In most wards, fireplaces provided heating. Water was provided from a brick tank adjacent to the kitchen which was filled from the roof and water hauled from the river. Buckets provided for toilet needs.

Out-buildings included a kitchen, bathhouse, laundry, “dead” house, hayshed (for bedding) and two brick closets erected over the cesspit (150 yards from the main building).

As Queensland had separated from NSW, the initial grant of £500 for furnishing the new building was disputed. QLD provided the funding and the first patient was received 3rd March 1860.

The hospital building was improved by the addition of balconies and verandas in 1864, Ceilings and other embellishments in 1874 and additional wings added (southern side in 1880 and northern side in 1883) .

The building was demolished in 1984.