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Wide Bay Hospitals Museum Soc. Inc.

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Maryborough, QLD
Wide Bay Hospitals Museum Soc. Inc.

Wide Bay Hospitals Museum and its members have been the committee for Maryborough's early public hospitals since 1991. Open Thursdays 9am-12pm

The Wide Bay Hospital Museum and its members are the custodian for, been preserving and researching the history of Maryborough's early public hospitals since 1991. Along the way a few discoveries have been made about our history. We display items and documents relating to Maryborough's early public general hospitals and maternity hospitals from the 1850's. These relate to the first purpose built p

ublic hospital outside Brisbane in 1865 and later the current hospital in 1887. We also compile documents for the maternity services and hospitals, the first of which was built in 1888. Our displays will enable you to discover Maryborough's public hospitals progression in order to meet the needs of the ever-changing community from it's early settlement. The displays include photos, building plans, old medial equipment as well as copies of the 1860's Hospital Management Committee meeting minutes. The Hospital Museum is located in the 1928 built, heritage listed building in the hospital grounds. The museum holds over 25 years of research of hospital history.

27/06/2025

100 years ago today (28th June), Maryborough lost a popular medical practitioner who died at the age of 48 years. That person was Dr Henry Lee Garde known as Lee Garde. Lee initially arrived in Maryborough as an infant when his Irish parents (Dr Thomas William Garde Jnr and Jane Henrietta nee Lee) spent a short time here in 1877 before settling in Toowoomba. Lee gained the medical degree of Bachelor of Medicine, Master of Surgery (BM, ChM) from the University of Sydney in 1901. From 1901 – 1903, he was a Resident Surgeon, later Medical Superintendent at the Toowoomba Hospital. In July 1903, Lee Garde was appointed as locum Resident Surgeon for Dr Henry Croker Garde (Lee's half uncle) at the Maryborough Hospital and later in February 1904 appointed Resident Surgeon when H.C Garde resigned. Lee held this position until April 1911 and had an active involvement in the management of the 1904 and 1905 Plague outbreaks treated at the hospital. At this time in history the hospital doctor was also allowed to have a private practice within a certain radius of the Post Office and Lee had built up a 'good following'. After leaving the Maryborough Hospital he initially ran his surgery from next to the St Mary's Hospital (later St Stephens Hospital) in John St and from 1914 from rooms in his newly built house across the road from the same hospital. He was Visiting Surgeon to the Lady Musgrave Hospital for a time and had major involvement with ownership with the St Mary's Hospital and St Margaret's Hospital.
Dr Lee Garde was the Municipal Health Officer,1915-1917 and a Member Municipal Council from 1919 - 1923 during which time he was a Member of the Municipal Health Committee and had major involvement with the Council's management of the 1919 flu pandemic in Maryborough.
Lee was involved with many of Maryborough's organisations and had held office in many of them, some included - Maryborough and Wide Bay Club, Maryborough Jockey Club, the School of Arts, Maryborough Technical College, Wide Bay Rowing Club, Wallaroo Football Club, Maryborough Sailing and Motor Boat Club, where there had been a Lee Garde trophy at one time, Tennis, Motoring, and Shooting. It seems that his biggest sporting interest was golf and Lee was member of Golf Club for many years. In fact after his death, the Dr Lee Garde memorial trophy commenced in 1926 to be contested for 10 years. The final winner from 1937, Dr Bendeicht, re gifted the trophy to be played on for another 5 years.
Dr H. Lee Garde was married to Margaret Crombie in 1904 and they had 3 children.
The photo is of Dr H. Lee Garde, date unknown.

22/05/2025

Pleased to be able to share our local healthcare history with Maryborough's local MP.

11/05/2025

Today 12th May Is International Nurses Day and always celebrated on the birth date of Florence Nightingale.
Members of the Wide Bay Hospitals Museum Soc. Inc. trust that all nurses both past and present have a wonderful day. We appreciate what you do and thank you.
Photo is Maryborough Hospital nurses who graduated in 1955.

04/05/2025

Today, the 5th May, is the International Day of the Midwife. The Wide Bay Hospitals Museum Soc. Inc acknowledges all midwives both past and present. A big thank you to each and every one of you.
Photo: Nursing staff of the Lady Musgrave Hospital, John St, Maryborough, 1924. Gwen Larsen photo. Gwen is in the back row, 2nd from the right.

24/04/2025

This ANZAC Day, the Wide Bay Hospitals Museum Soc. Inc. acknowledges the military service of all staff, both past and present, of Maryborough's Hospitals.
To date we know of at least 30 staff who served during WW1 - 20 Nurses, 6 Doctors, 3 Wardsmen, the Hospital Secretary, and the Hospital Committee President (who was also a local Pharmacist and past staff member)
During WW2, to date we know of 57 Maryborough registered nurses (or nursing sisters), 16 of these were Maryborough born. All served in the Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS), except for one who served in the Royal Australian Air Force Nursing Service (RAAFNS). We also know that up to 10 medical doctors with Maryborough connections also served in the Australian Army Medical Corp (AAMC) during WW2.
Lest We Forget

15/04/2025

On this day on the 15th April 1885 (140 years ago) the foundation stone for the new Maryborough Hospital being built in Walker St was laid with some pageantry. A procession went from the town to the new hospital site. Large groups of spectators lined the footpaths of the main streets or congregated at various vantage spots along the line of route and the Town band furnished lively music. The full strength of the Fire Brigade who looked splendid in their new uniforms took part. Various Societies also took part and included the P.A.F. Society, the Oddfellows, the Temperance bodies and the Scandinavians. After the societies came a buggy containing the Ministers and Members of Parliament, followed a large bus containing the Hospital Committee, Aldermen, and "Sundries," after which the Mayor and the President of the Hospital, Mr H Palmer, escorted the Premier. One can only imagine the sight.
For the ceremonial laying of the foundation stone, a platform had been erected in front of the stone which hung from shear legs with flags waving aloft. When everyone had settled into places around the spot, those present were informed that a sealed casket which contained coins of the realm, copies of the three local newspapers, and a parchment bearing a inscription (see copy taken from the Chronicle), was to be placed in the cavity under the stone. This was done by the Premier, the Hon. S. W. Griffith, the mortar was spread, and the stone lowered. The Premier then with a handsome silver trowel and mallet provided, and declared the stone "well and truly laid.'' (Maryborough Chronicle 16.04.1885, p.3). And yes, the stone is still there under the original centre block of the hospital.
Unfortunately there are no known photographs of the occasion. If there is one, we would love to see it.

07/03/2025

Today, 8th March, is International Women's Day. The WBHM Soc. Inc. celebrates the achievements of all the women who have been associated with our hospitals in the past up to the present day. We know that female nurses were the major presence in our hospitals in the past but we should never forget the domestic staff and other support services that feature women.
The photo is of some of MH domestic/kitchen staff from a 'few decades ago'. L-R: Gloria Lange, Beryl Baker, Sheila Bull, Lexie Cockburn, Gwenda Murphy.

06/03/2025

100 years ago on the 5th March 1925, the first meeting of the newly constituted Maryborough Hospitals Board was held. Under this Board the three services of the Maryborough General Hospital, Lady Musgrave Women's Hospital and the Maryborough Ambulance Transport Brigade were consolidated. Prior to this each, of the organisations were run by their own committee of management.
From its beginning in the 1850s, Maryborough Hospital was managed by a committee which was made up of 'known men of the town' who were elected by subscribers to the hospital. Funding for the hospital was mainly from subscription, payment for services, donations and the fund raising efforts of the community with some government subsidies.
Hospital Management Committees were disbanded in the mid 1920s as a result of changes bought about by a new Hospitals Act which gave the Queensland Government control over the State's hospital system. At the same time a free hospital system for both inpatients and outpatients was created. Hospital Boards that had responsibility for a specific district were introduced e.g. the Maryborough Hospitals Board. The Board consisted of elected Government representatives, as well as local authority representatives and they were responsible to the Minister of Health and Home Affairs in Brisbane.

The attached photo is of the original Maryborough Hospitals Board members. From L to R:
Back row- A. Brackenbury, F.W.O. Short, G.S. Mant, J. McCleer. Front row – G. McGhie, C.H. Adam, J. Storer (Secretary), W.H. Demaine (Chairman), Mrs. G. McGhie, P. Brophy, Dr W. Gilbee Brown (Medical Superintendent).

19/02/2025

We had previously posted this photo seeking assistance with identifying this lady in April 2021.
Unfortunately it is not until now that we believe that the lady is Christina, wife of George Ambrose White. Mr White was the proprietor of Victoria Farm, Melrose, Tinana and well known for his donated money for the Maryborough Town Hall in 1906 among other things.
According to her obituary, Christina undertook a great deal of charitable work. One in particular was the Lady Musgrave Hospital (LMH) from its beginning in 1884 until her death in 1897. Christina sat on the Management Committee of the LMH, holding the position of vice president until her death (12 years) (Annual Reports 1885-1897 held by the WBHM). After his wife's death, Mr White made a £100 donation (a considerable sum at that time) to the LMH on the condition that is was placed to get a yearly interest and credited as a donation from Mrs G.A. White. This was adhered to (Annual Reports 1897 - 1924 held by the WBHM, MC 20.11.1897, p.2).
Christina's strong association with the LMH would explain why we have this photo in our museum collection. Once again we seek your assistance. Can anyone help us prove for certain that the photo is Christina White?

14/01/2025

We will be opening the museum this Thursday 16th January at 9 a.m. to 12 noon after a well earned break over the Christmas and New Year period .
Pop along and learn about our local public hospital's history and check out the 'old' medical equipment at the same time.
We look forward to seeing you.

21/12/2024

Maryborough Hospital Christmas menu from 1934. This is one of several menus in the Museum's collection dating from 1928 to 1952.
The Museum will be closed from 19th December reopening on the 16th January 2025.
More than happy to open for visitors during this time - contact Marilyn 0416213479 or Colleen 41223093 to arrange a suitable date and time.
Have a nice Christmas and be safe.

10/11/2024

This Armistice Day, the Wide Bay Hospitals Museum Soc. Inc. acknowledges the military service of all staff, both past and present, of Maryborough's Hospitals.

Today, we particularly wish to honour Dr Graham Patrick Dixon who was a Medical Practitioner at Maryborough from 1900 to 1911. During this time he was:
Visiting Surgeon to the Lady Musgrave Lying-in Hospital, 1900-1911,
Visiting Physician to the Maryborough General Hospital, 1900-1911, Honorary Surgeon to the Maryborough Ambulance Transport Brigade, 1904-1911,
Official Visitor, Maryborough Lunatic Reception House, 1902-1904,
Actively involved in the 1904 and 1905 Plague outbreaks in Maryborough.
He was also commissioned Captain, AAMC, Wide Bay Regiment,
Officer in Command, No,2 Half Company AMC, Maryborough,1900,
Officer in Command No.3 Bearer Company, AAMC, Maryborough, 1904-1905.
WW1 saw him enlist in the AAMC, AIF from April 1914 to December 1918. He saw overseas service at Gallipoli, Egypt and the Middle East. In September 1914 was promoted from Captain to Major, and in 1916 promoted to Lt. Colonel, in command 1st light Horse Field Ambulance, later promoted to Colonel.
Colonel Dixon was Mentioned in Despatches (MiD) twice.
In 1919 he was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).
In 1923 was awarded the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers' Decoration (VD) as recognition for long and meritorious military service.

Lest We Forget

(Photo Source: University of Sydney, Beyond 1914)

Address

Maryborough, QLD

Opening Hours

9am - 12pm

Telephone

+61416213479

Website

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