Wiluna District Hospital Group (fmr)

Statement of Significance

The site has historic significance for its long association with hospital use. The former hospital buildings have high social significance given the essential role they fulfilled for the local community from the early 1930s until 1966. The place continues to have social significance given that it is now the centre for local government in the Shire. In addition the place provides for the largest grouping of heritage buildings in the town, and as such is a key element to the townscape. The former Hospital also has significance for aesthetic reasons, in particular the roofiine, spreading verandahs, gabled entrance and configuration of four buildings.

Physical Description

Construction Materials: Walls: fibro-asbestos Roof: CGI
Modifications: Internal fixtures and fittings have been modified for the use as the shire office Condition: Good Integrity: High
Description of the place and its setting: The place includes four buildings, all of similar style and scale, which form a quadrangle around a courtyard as well as additional structures to the rear. The buildings are all timber framed with fibro-asbestos walls and corrugated iron roofs. The roof extends to cover the verandah. All the buildings have verandahs to most sides, this being a necessity given the hot weather conditions of the district. There are french doors opening onto the verandahs. Roofs and walls are all painted light green. Windows are timber and double hung. The entrance features a gabled roof line over the stairs. Metal air vents are evident in all of the roofs.

History

History: The Murchison Times and Day Dawn Gazette of 17 August 1897 states that site had been selected for a hospital at Wiluna. On 18 December, 1903 Reserve 8468, in the south-east corner of Wiluna Lot 190, was set aside for hospital purposes. The Wiluna Chronicle of 29 November 1924 describes the Lake Way Hospital as being whitewashed outside and painted inside. It is further described as being a timber framed structure with part corrugated iron walls and canvas lined ceilings. "The top section of the walls was left open for ventilation" (Topperwien, p21) Due to the ever increasing population of the town there was a need to extend the hospital. In October 1926 the Committee of the Lake Way Hospital was granted 250 pounds towards the cost of erecting a woman's ward. The Works Department also contributed the school house at Malcolm which was to be dismantled and re-erected on the hospital site. (The Wiluna Chronicle, 23/10/1926, p2)

By the beginning of the 1930s the hospital remained overcrowded and patients were being turned away through lack of accommodation. In April tenders were called for the additions to the hospital in the form of a new men's ward on the south side of the existing hospital. The ward was to be built in such a position "that the completed new hospital as planned can be erected at any time." (The Wiluna Miner, 15/4/1933, p3) The Wiluna Hospital Board appointed T.W. Lees to carry out the work for 1325 pounds. In June tenders were again called, this time for the erection of new Staff Quarters at the hospital site after the old ones were destroyed by fire. (The Wiluna Miner, 17/6/1933, p2 & 24/6/1933, p2) The Wiluna Miner indicates that the Wiluna Gold Mine contributed generously to the hospital, funding an X-Ray Room amongst other things. (19/8/1933, p3)


On 15 September 1933 tenders were called for substantial additions to the Wiluna Public Hospital, as it was now known. In November Messrs. Todd Bros, of Perth were accepted to undertake the work for 4380/6/6 pounds. (The WilunaMmer, 18/11/1933, p2) A fence was erected around the hospital reserve and lawn was planted along with flower beds and ornamental trees. (The Wiluna Miner, 17/3/1934, p3) The hospital was officially opened on 2 June 1934 by Mr W.B. Philippson, JP, who was Chairman of the Road Board and Chairman of the Board of Management of the Wiluna Public Hospital. The new buildings and furniture had cost 7200 pounds, of which the Government had paid 3000 pounds and the Board 4200 pounds, partly funded by subscriptions. The Wiluna Miner recorded that: "The Hospital is up-to-date in every respect and is said to be the most modern and completely equipped outside the metropolitan area." (9/6/1934, p3) In 1934 the Hospital consisted of four wings. The south wing included four consulting rooms and five women's wards, including a sound-proof labor ward. The west wing contained the administration section while the north wing was the male ward. The east wing was given over to a kitchen, staff dining room and two maids' bedrooms to complete the quadrangle. "Each wing, though complete in itself, is connected by wide verandahs and is on a common concrete verandah." (The Wiluna Miner, 9/6/1934, p3) The old hospital buildings were removed from the site by Lees. At a peak period in 1937 the hospital had a bed average of 31 and employed 30 staff members. (Topperwien, p21)
In December 1967 the hospital closed, but continued functioning as a Nursing Post until 1970. In 1981 the buildings were restored by the Wiluna Shire Council and converted to a Civic Centre. It is now used as the Shire office.

Integrity/Authenticity

High

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Disclaimer

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.