Diamantina Health Care Museum

Diamantina Health Care Museum
Diamantina Health Care Museum
	Former Dispenser's House, Diamantina Hospital
Location	Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Coordinates	27°30′02″S153°02′00″E / 27.5005°S 153.0332°E
Design period	1900–1914 (early 20th century)
Built	1908
Architect	Thomas Pye of Queensland Government Architect's Office
Website	Official website
Queensland Heritage Register
Official name	Former Dispenser's House, Diamantina Hospital, Diamantina Health Care Museum
Type	state heritage (built)
Designated	3 July 2007
Reference no.	602560
Significant period	1908–1974
Significant components	residential accommodation – other
Builders	W Chaplain
	Location of Diamantina Health Care Museum in Queensland Diamantina Health Care Museum (Australia)

Last updated April 20, 2024

The former Dispenser's House of Diamantina Hospital is now the heritage-listed Diamantina Health Care Museum at Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Thomas Pye of the Queensland Government Architect's Office and built in 1908 by W Chaplain. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 3 July 2007.^[1]

History

The former Dispenser's House was built in 1908 as part of the facilities of the Diamantina Hospital for Chronic Diseases and is now a health care museum.^[1]

The Diamantina Hospital was established in 1901 by adapting the facilities of the Diamantina Orphanage, named for the wife of the first Governor of Queensland, Lady Diamantina Bowen. This had been founded in 1864 under the committee of the Brisbane Hospital in two cottages, near the Victoria Barracks, that had been used as a fever hospital.^[1]

Within two years, the orphanage was caring for about 100 children and received a government subsidy. In 1882, a 20-acre (8.1 ha) block of land on Ipswich Road at Woolloongabba was purchased to allow the construction of a larger facility. In 1883 the Diamantina Orphanage opened at this new location and by 1886 was caring for more than 350 children. This number was reduced by boarding out some children and removing those with a parent able to make some contribution to their support.^[1]

In 1893, severe flooding damaged the Woogaroo Lunatic Asylum, so about 40 of the quieter patients from the asylum were moved to the orphanage, and the children were dispersed. From 1898 to 1900, the facility was used as a reformatory for boys.^[1]

At that time, Queensland had no hospital to treat chronically ill patients. Tuberculosis was a major cause of death into the 20th century and "consumptive" patients were also drawn to Queensland because of the belief that warm weather helped to cure the disease. Treatment for tuberculosis at that time consisted mainly of isolation, bed rest, good diet and exposure to fresh air and sunshine. Medical professionals lobbied for a facility to treat chronic cases. A sanatorium was opened in Dalby in 1900 and the Diamantina Orphanage, with its pleasant situation on a wooded slope, was adapted as a hospital. Its dormitories were enlarged as wards, and on 5 August 1901 it opened as the Diamantina Hospital for Chronic Diseases. It was a Public Charitable Institution under the Charitable Institution Act. and was under the care of the Department of Health. It accepted patients from the general hospital and from the Dunwich Benevolent Asylum, many of whom were suffering from tuberculosis. The Diamantina Hospital opened with 32 beds and a general staff of 19 administered by a Matron, Miss Florence Chatfield, a Superintendent, Dr Francis Washington Everad Hare, and a Head Wardsman and Dispenser, Mr Frederick Staubwasser.^[1]

By 1903 the hospital had 72 beds and two open-air wards. The superintendent resigned and Miss Chatfield added his duties to her own. In 1907 Mr Staubwasser, planning marriage, requested a raise in salary and a cottage within the hospital grounds. His request was strongly supported by Miss Chatfield, in a letter to the Home Secretary, stressing his value to the institution. The request was approved but the cottage was not built immediately.^[1]

Thomas Pye, Deputy Government Architect, prepared sketch plans for a dwelling of 700 square feet plus a large front verandah, to be constructed near the hospital Dispensary. Tenders were called on 9 July 1908 and that of W Chaplain for £ 330 was accepted. By the beginning of 1909 the house was occupied.^[1]

Mr Staubwasser served as Dispenser until 1912 when he became Assistant Superintendent. In that year another verandah was added to the cottage and a laundry in 1914. In 1923 the house was extended by adding another verandah to the south and a third bedroom to the front. The main entrance was then relocated to the northern verandah. In 1935 Mr Staubwasser was promoted to Superintendent but continued to occupy the house until his death in 1938. From then until the end of the Second World War, the house was occupied by a series of Medical Officers from the Brisbane General Hospital who were responsible for the Diamantina Hospital patients.^[1]

In 1943 the Diamantina Hospital became the South Brisbane Auxiliary Hospital and was under the control of the Brisbane General Hospital. Following World War II, an intensive programme was carried out by the Queensland government to eradicate tuberculosis by screening and treatment. This reduced the need for chronic care facilities.^[1]

In 1956 a new 800-bed acute hospital was built in the grounds of the South Brisbane Hospital. In 1960 it was renamed the Princess Alexandra Hospital (after Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy) and had its own hospital board. The cottage, after accommodating a series of staff members, was modified for use as a Home Haemodialysis Training Centre in 1974. In 1998 it was used by the History and Archives Committee and in 1999 by the Redevelopment Group.^[1]

In 2003 the former Dispenser's House was renovated and opened in 2004 as the Diamantina Health Care Museum.^[1]

A wall has been removed between bedrooms and an office created on the northern verandah by the construction of a partition. The building remains substantially intact and retains its domestic appearance.^[1]

Description

The former Dispenser's House is situated close to the Cornwall Street gate to the Princess Alexandra Hospital. It is a timber building with a hipped roof clad with corrugated iron sheeting and is set on new concrete stumps.^[1]

There is a gabled bay with four windows to the eastern elevation and verandahs to the north and south. The southern verandah is built in with timber-framed windows and the northern by glass louvres. The walls are timber-lined and there are timber floors and ceilings. The rooms opening onto the southern verandah and some of the internal rooms have French doors with transom lights above. Modern toilets have been added.^[1]

Heritage listing

The former Dispenser's House of the Diamantina Hospital was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register on 3 July 2007 having satisfied the following criteria.^[1]

The place is important in demonstrating the evolution or pattern of Queensland's history.

The former Dispenser's House is important for demonstrating the former use of the site as the Diamantina Hospital for Chronic Diseases, which opened in 1901 on the site of the current Princess Alexandra Hospital. This was the first such hospital in Queensland and was important in the development of health care in the State. The former residence, constructed in 1908, also demonstrates the common practice of the time of providing on site living quarters for key personnel.^[1]

The place demonstrates rare, uncommon or endangered aspects of Queensland's cultural heritage.

The former Dispenser's House is now rare as the last remaining structure from the Diamantina Hospital for Chronic Diseases.^[1]

Related Research Articles

The Princess Alexandra Hospital (PAH) is a major Australian teaching hospital of the University of Queensland, located in Brisbane, Queensland. It is a tertiary level teaching hospital with all major medical and surgical specialities onsite except for obstetrics, gynaecology, paediatrics, and medical genetics. It has a catchment population of 1.6 million people with 1038 beds and 5,800 full-time equivalent staff. In 2005, the hospital received Magnet Recognition.

Woolloongabba is a suburb in the City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Woolloongabba had a population of 5,631 people.

Diamantina, Lady Bowen, was a noble from the formerly Venetian Ionian Islands who became the wife of Sir George Bowen, the first Governor of Queensland.

The Park Centre for Mental Health is a heritage-listed psychiatric hospital at 60 Grindle Road, Wacol, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It is one of the largest psychiatric hospitals in Australia. The hospital provides a range of mental health services, including extended inpatient care, mental health research, education and a high security psychiatric unit. It was designed by Kersey Cannan and built from 1866 to 1923. It is also known as Goodna Hospital for the Insane, Goodna Mental Hospital, Woogaroo Lunatic Asylum, and Wolston Park Hospital Complex. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.

The Oregon State Tuberculosis Hospital was a tuberculosis sanatorium in Salem, Oregon, United States. Established in 1905, it was the first public tuberculosis sanatorium on the West Coast. The main hospital building, constructed in 1894, had formerly housed the Oregon State Deaf-Mute School. After its conversion into the state tuberculosis hospital, multiple cottages and additional buildings were constructed on the property. The hospital remained in operation until 1969, when it was purchased by Corban University.

Lady Bowen Hospital is a heritage-listed former maternity hospital and now social housing and office complex at 497–535 Wickham Terrace, Spring Hill, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by John H. Buckeridge and built from 1889 to 1890 by John Quinn. It was also known as Brisbane Lying-In Hospital and the Lady Bowen Hostel. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 23 April 1999. The complex consists of the former hospital and nurses' quarters buildings; a third building which had been contained in the heritage listing was demolished c. 2005–2008.

The Translational Research Institute (TRI) is Australia's first translational medical research institute dedicated to translating scientific discoveries into applications for medical practice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toowoomba Hospital</span> Historic site in Queensland, Australia

Toowoomba Hospital is a heritage-listed hospital at Pechey Street, Toowoomba, Toowoomba Region, Queensland, Australia. It was built from c. 1880 to c. 1927. It is also known as Toowoomba Base Hospital. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 28 July 2000.

Fortitude Valley Child Health Centre is a heritage-listed clinic at 112 Alfred Street, Fortitude Valley, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Cecil James Virgo. It is also known as Fortitude Valley Baby Clinic & Nurse Training Centre. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 12 August 2011.

Princess Theatre is a heritage-listed theatre at 8 Annerley Road, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by architect John Beauchamp Nicholson and built in 1888. It is also known as South Brisbane Public Hall and Boggo Road Theatre. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.

Woolloongaba Post Office is a heritage-listed former post office at 765 Stanley Street, Woolloongabba, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Thomas Pye and built in 1905 by Thomas Rees. It is also known as Woolloongabba Post & Telegraph Office. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 24 January 2003.

Musgrave House is a heritage-listed sanatorium at 8 Allpass Parade, Shorncliffe, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Richard Gailey and built from 1884 to 1920s. It is also known as Lady Musgrave Sanitorium for Sick Children. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 22 October 1999.

The Royal Brisbane Hospital Nurses' Homes are heritage-listed accommodation for nurses at the Royal Brisbane Hospital, Herston Road, Herston, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It was built from 1896 to 1939. It includes the Lady Lamington Nurses' Home and Nurses' Homes Blocks 1 & 2. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.

Rosemount Hospital is a heritage-listed public hospital and health precinct in the suburb of Windsor in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Rosemount Hospital is co-located on the broader but synonymous Rosemount Campus, which houses a number of community health services provided by Metro North Health, the local health district within Queensland Health. It is also known as Rosemount, Rosemount Military Hospital, and Rosemount Repatriation General Hospital. It was built between the 1850s and 1940s, and was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 24 September 1999.

Brisbane General Hospital Precinct is a heritage-listed hospital precinct at 40 Bowen Bridge Road, Herston, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It was built from 1875 to 1941. It includes six historic buildings associated with the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital and the former Royal Children's Hospital, as well as aspects of their grounds and landscaping. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 28 March 2003. A number of buildings in the precinct, in particular the Lady Lamington Nurses Home, will be redeveloped as part of the Herston Quarter development.

Maryborough Base Hospital is a heritage-listed hospital at Walker Street, Maryborough, Fraser Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Queensland Colonial Architect John James Clark and built from 1887 by Robert Taylor. It is also known as Maryborough General Hospital. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 2 February 1998.

Springsure Hospital Museum is a heritage-listed former public hospital and now a museum at 13 Woodbine Street, Springsure, Central Highlands Region, Queensland, Australia. It was built from 1868 to 1879. It is also known as Springsure Hospital. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.

Australian Inland Mission Hospital is a heritage-listed former hospital at Adelaide Street, Birdsville, Shire of Diamantina, Queensland, Australia. It was built from 1952 to 1953 by Ben Hargreaves. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 17 July 2008.

Old Isisford District Hospital is a heritage-listed former public hospital at 6 St Agnes Street, Isisford, Longreach Region, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Queensland Department of Public Works and built from 1914 to 1918. It is also known as Isisford District Hospital (former). It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 9 September 2014.

Dutton Park State School is a heritage-listed government primary school at 112 Annerley Road, Dutton Park, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It was built from 1916 to 1934. It was also known as Woolloongabba State School, Woolloongabba Boys State School, and Dutton Park Boys State School. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 30 November 2018.

References

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 "Former Dispenser's House, Diamantina Hospital (entry 602560)". Queensland Heritage Register . Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 1 August 2014.

Attribution

This Wikipedia article was originally based on "The Queensland heritage register" published by the State of Queensland under CC-BY 3.0 AU licence (accessed on 7 July 2014, archived on 8 October 2014). The geo-coordinates were originally computed from the "Queensland heritage register boundaries" published by the State of Queensland under CC-BY 3.0 AU licence (accessed on 5 September 2014, archived on 15 October 2014).

External links

Official website

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[qhr-1] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 "Former Dispenser's House, Diamantina Hospital (entry 602560)". Queensland Heritage Register . Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 1 August 2014.

[1]