Leonora Hospital (old section)

Statement of Significance

The building contributes to the community's sense of place as surviving evidence of early settlement in the Leonora area. The place represents the demand on public services in a town associated with the gold boom in the early 1900s.

Physical Description

The old hospital is free standing and is a landscaped setting. This old building forms part of the Leonora Hospital. The small single-storey and simple rectangular building has a gabled roof with corbelled gable ends finished with a rounded coping. The building exterior features large casement windows sealed in a closed position, and double-hung sash windows. Door openings are heavily recessed. A verandah has been added to the building (the date of the addition is unknown). The building is now surrounded on three sides by a raised concrete verandah pad which is covered by a lean-to roof supported on square timber posts. The windows on the north elevation are protected by metal framed awnings clad in cgi (addition). The roof plumbing has recently been replaced.

History

It was noted in December 1897 that a private hospital opened in Leonora halfway between Leonora and Gwalia. The rapid growth of the town in the next few years saw the need for a more community based hospital. An outbreak of typhoid in March 1899 accelerated concern and-a public meeting was held in July 1899 to establish a hospital committee. Local magistrate Mr H. James offered a loan of £100 and Dr Blackbuni was appointed the head of the new hospital. Dr Healy took charge of the hospital in July 1900. It is unclear whether new buildings were constructed for this hospital or the old facilities were used. However; misfortune struck in November 1899 when the kitchen was burnt down, luckily the wards escaped. The people of Leonora continued to agitate through their local ML A, Mr Gregory, to receive the same funding as other hospitals. In July 1900 a special request was made to move the hospital to a more convenient site. A Grant-in-Aid of £250 was forwarded to the Leonora Public Hospital on 18th July 1900, most probably for this purpose. The following year, £325 was sent to Leonora hospital for buildings and furniture. It seems most likely that the building shifted to the more convenient site was the original private hospital located half way between Leonora and Gwalia..

Integrity/Authenticity

INTEGRITY: High AUTHENTICITY: High

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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