Local Government
Broome
Region
Kimberley
12 Anne St Broome
Cnr Walcott St
Broome Hospital Nurses' Quarters
Commonwealth Health Laboratory
Broome
Kimberley
Constructed from 1959, Constructed from 1967, Constructed from 1938, Constructed from 1960, Constructed from 1976, Constructed from 1955, Constructed from 2000
Type | Status | Date | Documents |
---|---|---|---|
Heritage List | Adopted | 28 Aug 2018 | |
State Register | Registered | 02 Sep 1998 | HCWebsite.Listing+ListingDocument, HCWebsite.Listing+ListingDocument |
Type | Status | Date | Documents |
---|---|---|---|
(no listings) |
Type | Status | Date | Grading/Management | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Category | ||||
Municipal Inventory | Adopted | 28 Aug 2014 | Grading A | |
Municipal Inventory | Adopted | 28 Aug 2018 | Grading A |
Commonwealth Health Laboratory (fmr) is significant for its associations with medical research and health services in the Broome district. It represents an uncommon example of concrete construction and interwar development in Broome.
Commonwealth Health Laboratory (fmr) comprises 3 single storey buildings: former laboratory, animal house and toilet block. All are situated in the grounds of Broome Hospital. The buildings are reinforced concrete structures with hipped corrugated asbestos/cement roofs, although the Animal House is rendered and painted concrete with corrugated iron roof. Conversion to Nurse's quarters included partition walls to create more rooms, construction of bathroom in former storeroom, verandah enclosure and alterations to toilet block.
Constructed as a diagnostic and research laboratory for doctors, it had an associated animal house and toilet block. The laboratory was a larger version of the Darwin Health Laboratory (1933) and was opened in July 1938 by Dr R. K. Gray. It was involved with work on the outbreak of malignant Tertian Malaria at Fitzroy Valley and the incidence of leprosy in the northwest, but by the early 1950s there was little requirement for a laboratory in Broome. The Broome District Medical Officer used the place as a residence for several years, and in 1955 it was converted for use as hospital Nurse's quarters. In 1959, the animal house was converted for use as quarters for hospital domestic staff and a laundry was added in 1962. The Nurse's quarters were upgraded in 1967 and the water tanks and tank stands were removed. In 1975-76, the former laboratory was refurbished for use as Community Health Services. It has provided community health care since that time and is of particular importance to the Aboriginal community in the areas of preventative medicine and child health care.
Moderate degree Moderate degree
Good
Ref ID No | Ref Name | Ref Source | Ref Date |
---|---|---|---|
Heritage Council assessment documentation | |||
Heritage and Conservation Professionals | Former Commonwealth Health Laboratory Broome |
Ref Number | Description |
---|---|
No.2 | MI Place No. |
Library Id | Title | Medium | Year Of Publication |
---|---|---|---|
2988 | Former Commonwealth Health Laboratory Broome | Heritage Study {Cons'n Plan} | 1998 |
Individual Building or Group
Epoch | General | Specific |
---|---|---|
Present Use | HEALTH | Other |
Original Use | GOVERNMENTAL | Other |
Other Use | HEALTH | Office or Administration Bldg |
Style |
---|
Inter-War Art Deco |
Inter-War Stripped Classical |
Type | General | Specific |
---|---|---|
Wall | TIMBER | Other Timber |
Wall | BRICK | Other Brick |
General | Specific |
---|---|
SOCIAL & CIVIC ACTIVITIES | Community services & utilities |
This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.