Bright colours and natural light.
In September 1971 it was announced that Maitland Hospital would receive one million dollars for the development of a new maternity unit, new boiler house and the updating of the administration facilities (Maitland Mercury, 23 September 1971).
Plans for the maternity building were presented in 1973. At three storeys, it was to house a 30 bed maternity unit, an eight bed intensive care unit and a four to six bed coronary unit. A model of the building was on display at the 1974 Maitland Show. By this time the costs of the overall development had risen to 1.6 million dollars, and by mid-1975 to 3.65 million (Newcastle Morning Herald, 10 Jan 1974, and Maitland Mercury, 26 May 1975).
Government architect’s sketch of the building, April 1976.
(Maitland City Library)
Construction began in mid-1976, with the design of the building attracting comment for its ‘unique approach in designing a hospital’. It was to consist of ‘a group of hexagonal modules formed into a triangular-shaped building. In the ward areas, the hexagons formed four-bed wards clustered around a central hexagonal space that was the nurses’ station area.’ (Newcastle Morning Herald, 16 July 1976)
Maitland Mercury photographs of the building under construction.
(Newcastle Region Library Local Studies Collection)
It took two years for the construction to be completed with the final facilities consisting of ‘a 12 bed post-operative and coronary intensive care ward, a 27-bed maternity ward, reception area and kiosk.’ (Newcastle Morning Herald, 2 August 1978).
In praise of the new facility, the Maitland Mercury (20 September 1978) observed:
The bright colours and use of natural light make the maternity ward a rather different place to maternity wards of the past.
View of the new building just before opening, Maitland Mercury, 20 October 1978.
(Maitland and District Historical Society, pamphlet files)
The building was officially opened on 20 October 1978 by the NSW Minister for Health, Kevin Stewart, and the new maternity and intensive care wards were named the Robert Brown wing after the Hospital’s Chief Executive Officer.
Plaque commemorating the opening of the building, 20 October 1978.
(Maitland Hospital Collection 299)
In 2021 the plaque was fixed to a wall in the building.
In 1992, the building housed the main entry lobby, kiosk and toilets (Ground Floor); maternity wards, nursery and delivery suite (First Floor); intensive and coronary care units, operating theatre recovery area, visitors’ lounge, medical officers’ rooms, staff amenities and service rooms (Second Floor); and a plant room (Third Floor). (Conservation plan 1992, Building 13)
In 2018, the building housed the kiosk and maintenance plant (Level 1); maternity unit (Level 2); education centre, technology room, library and doctors’ rooms (Level 3); maintenance and plant room (Level 4). (Maitland Hospital Directory 2018)
Views of the building, July 2019.
(Janis Wilton)