ESSENDON HOSPITAL
Early Days
A hospital was in demand for the area of Essendon but before this project was established there were problems and differences in the community.
As early as 1899 four councillors went to see the building site where the hospital would be built, but it took quite a long time before it was officially opened in 1964.
In 1919, January
24th the influenza epidemic took hold. Essendon High School was turned into an
emergency hospital. By March 14th seventy-five people had gone into hospital,
along with three deaths due to the epidemic.
Between May 15-23rd there
had been eight admissions, ten discharges and four deaths. By May 25th the
number of people with influenza decreased and 24 were under treatment. During this time
people felt intimidated to leave their houses, masks were worn and children
stayed home. By August the worst was over.
Before World War II, the residents of Essendon collected £16,000 for their local hospital. Many cakes were baked and stalls took place at Queen’s Park to raise money. Although many residents were poor, they continued to help.
To read more about hospital fundraising click onto the Fundraising page
World War II
In 1938 the James Anonymous Trust fund offered a money grant through request of the late Councillor A. A. Thomas. The money was for establishing the Essendon Hospital. A committee formed and further fund raising began. Cr Thomas and Mrs. G. S. A. Williams gave £1,000 each, another £1,000 was collected and a further £3,000 was promised up until 1942. Three properties were purchased with the given money and the balance of £23,000 was offered through the trust fund, for the building designed by architect Mr. H. Winbush.
During the war years the fundraising
committee came close to establishing the Essendon Community Hospital. Mr Williams, the Mayor of Essendon, wrote a letter addressing
the years 1939-45:
"The Essendon
Community Hospital came so close to giving accommodation in Essendon and
provided a tremendous start financially. A 30-bed hospital cost £25,000 in 1939.
However the call on materials and labour for our war efforts began to edge up the
prices, so the committee took an option on 80,000 bricks and other materials,
all stainless steel requisites that were stopped for defence purposes only.
Equipment such as heating, air conditioning, kitchen ranges, food wagons, linen
made, were all expensive.
Then came
building restriction, regulations and the application for the building permit.
The government had dropped a bombshell by setting a limit of spending
money, which was £16,000. Areas such as
Administration offices, service blocks, operating theatres, and all the other
equipment would have nearly costed that much."
All the money that was collected before and during WWII was refunded to the donors without one penny in expenses being deducted.
Post War
In 1944 the Essendon City Council received a letter from the Ascot Vale Branch Labour Party suggesting that Essendon include themselves in the listing of General hospitals proposed by the government Charities Board. The Charities Board organised assistance for General hospitals away from the city.
A conference with the Inspector from the Charities Board determined that Essendon would need a hospital with 250 beds, but the scheme could be put into operation with 150 beds, with additional accommodation planned in the future. The Charities Board policy would only provide half the funds for the Hospital, and the other half found by the council or by public donation.
Six months later the Major of Essendon, Cr G. W. Tait, met with the Community Hospital Committee who concurred with the idea and on February 19th 1945 a meeting took place. Cr. G.W.Tait was the Chairman of the Committee until his death in 1958.
On April 13th 1945 the council held a public meeting which included members of the Community Hospital Committee, citizens of Essendon and other areas, with 170 people present. Fifteen people from the Community Hospital Committee were required to investigate the proposed hospital. They planned to find a suitable area for the Hospital site and work out a reasonable cost. They reported back in July 1945, a hospital of 250 beds with an initial part of 150 beds was recommended. Twenty-four members from the committee and the chairman set up a new committee to discuss starting the project. Keilor, Broadmeadows, and Coburg were invited to vote for representatives. A subcommittee spoke about 18 suggested locations while the Hospitals and Charity Board would investigate three other sites.
Just three of the original committee members had joined the new committee: Cr.Gribbs. Mr.F.D. Nunan and Dr.Harty, and most of the funds were transferred for the General Hospital in 1946. This was the idea for patients: 20 beds for Children, 30 beds for Midwifery, 100 beds for General (and these beds be spread between provide, intermediate and public patients).
The name Essendon and District Memorial Hospital was given on October 31st 1945.
Coilsfield
In 1946 the site of “Coilsfield” was chosen for the Essendon hospital, in Holmes Rd, Moonee Ponds.
Coilsfield was an Italian Renaissance style house, built by Mr George Holmes a building contractor, which was originally called “Beau Sejour.” The property ran from Chester St to Norfolk Street. It was made out of solid stone purchased from Tasmania, for a price of £40,000. A picture was sent to the 1890 London Exhibition, which was part of a selection of twelve homes chosen from the whole of Australia.
The site of Coilsfield
The name Coilsfield was given to the house by the original owner Alexander (Sandy) Smith, because it looked like the Castle of Montgomery in Scotland. After Smith's death in 1946 a brother of Sir William Angliss bought the home, but when he died Alexander Smith’s son Robin McDougall Smith bought it back.
The Smith family, included Heather and her brother Robin who were both life governors of several institutions. They owned the house and had a long history in that area. Their great grandfather was John Rankin, after whom Rankins Road in Kensington is named. Their grandfather, Robert McDougall was one of the first members of the Legislative Council, the duties of which he undertook in an honorary capacity. Robin had been given a reception by Essendon Council in recognition of his service to the community. Many charitable activities took place at Coilsfield such as a garden fete, which took eight months to organise.
Heather Smith was strongly in favour of the district hospital but did not want to sell the property.. She had written more than one letter to the Gazette Newspaper opposing the compulsory acquisition and the decision for the hospital. She was worried about the fact there would be a loss of residence for the people concerned because the house was used for accommodation.
On March 3rd 1947, a letter was published in the Melbourne Herald Newspaper, which said:
“At Essendon, a hospital committee seems determined to seize a valuable property, the owner of which has firmly refused to sell at any price. The property is admitted to be well kept and well occupied, and its demolition would destroy a fine old mansion and render another 30 homeless. Apparently the owner has no right at all.”
The Broadmeadows Council rejected the Coilsfield site and wanted the hospital located at North Essendon, which was the original preference of the Chairman of the Charities Board. Keilor Council also objected to the idea of “Coilsfield.” A petition 296 residents and ratepayers of Essendon were gathered in 2 days, to oppose the Coilsfield site.
The owners declined to negotiate and so they fought a long fight, which ended when the cabinet made a decision for the compulsory acquisition of the Coilsfield property.
In 1947 applications were received from architects wanting an appointment, and several firms were interviewed in 1948.
In 1950 building requirements were completed and therefore in 1951 the building and architect sub-committee began operation.
In 1953 a maternity block was proposed as the first stage of the hospital. The Charities Commission insisted on a minimum of 200-beds, however following a legacy of £200,000 from the late Mr A.D. Rowe, the commission agreed in November 1959 to permit a maternity area to be constructed under the committee’s fund without going over the budget.
The architect submitted a proposal in September 1960. Hospitals such as Seymour, Footscray, Preston, Northcote, Queen Victoria, Francis Xavier and Cabrini Hospitals were inspected in October, 1960.
In 1962, Coilsfield came under the wrecker’s hammer to make way for the 48 bed maternity ward, which opened in 1964.
The architectural plans were accepted on March 29th 1963, costing £255,321,15.0, and the architect was able to proceed. The extras increased by £20,000 and the furnishings for the Hospital came to £31,000.
The hospital was officially opened on the December 6, 1964 by Mr. J. W. S. Fraser, who was President of the Committee of Management. Only the Maternity Ward opened with 48 beds, nurseries, and delivery wards. On January 11th 1965 the very first patient was admitted.
1970's
In 1976 a new Maternity Ward opened, which supplied another 18 beds and served 2,000 births per annum. A plaque unveiled by the senior Vice President, A. F. Shower Esquire, with the following inscription:
G. W. Tait Wing Charter President 1945 -1958
In 1976 Sir Reginald Ansett accepted the position of Patron, and the appeal for funds to build the rest of the hospital and also extending. The component of the funds required $500,000.
In 1977, a staggering amount of $665,923 was raised in just 14 weeks from people in the local area, this provided funding for the new hospital buildings. Construction started in June 1978, with the hope of completing it within 690 days.
1980's
The main building was finished in 1982, costing $37 million dollars. It was meant to provide general care, but the Cain government claimed there was not enough funds to operate the General hospital. Instead it became a rehabilitation centre with orthopaedic, psychiatric rehabilitation and outpatient primary clinics.
In 1984 the opening of the 206 new beds was delayed by arguments over an amalgamation proposal. To cut costs the government proposed to that the Royal Melbourne Hospital take over management of the Essendon District Memorial Hospital. The Royal Melbourne Hospital considered having 25 less people on staff than the current arrangement. This was possible because the Royal Melbourne didn’t need to appoint senior staff such as chief physiotherapist, purchasing and supply officers, because existing personnel at Royal Melbourne would do these jobs.
The Essendon District Memorial Hospital management was against the proposed amalgamation and asked permission to retain control of the hospital for 12 months. If it failed to operate then the hospital would be amalgamated with the Royal Melbourne.
A group of people marched from Essendon Hospital down Puckle St, to the Civic Centre protesting against the idea of the Royal Melbourne taking over.
In December 1985 the general hospital became idle, when it was amalgamated with the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
In 1986 the surgical unit opened which specialised in ophthalmic, minor general, minor gynaecological and minor plastic surgery. The new orthopaedic unit also opened at the hospital, it was the first of its type in the public hospital system. In 1986 patients came from the north-western suburbs to have different operations, such as elective orthopaedic surgery. The orthopaedic and rehabilitation units would offer 24 orthopaedic and 48 rehabilitation beds. The theatres would allow surgeons to perform modern orthopaedic procedures, from replacing a hip to correcting clawed toes.
In 1987 the Mammogram Screening Service started.
On March 30th 1988, the Essendon Gazette reported on the most common operations. The most common was knee surgery, and hip replacement was the most complicated. Day surgery accounted for almost half of the surgery undertaken, especially for osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
1990's
In 1990 there was talk about the Maternity Ward closing but the government rejected the idea. simply because the hospital hadn’t been in operation for very long.
The closure of the Essendon Hospital took place in 1996, which left only the Breast Screen Services remaining until the end of 1998.
2000's
In February 2000 the Essendon Hospital was sold. Retirement Services Australia said the $40 million redevelopment will include a range of community health services.
The redevelopment will include new buildings and some existing ones on site, provision of urgently needed aged care accommodation, a range of community medical services on two floors of the hospital, commercial use, a nursing home, serviced hostel apartments and a childcare centre. The project is expected to take 24 months to complete.
