Give … a cheerful atmosphere.
Goodnight is one of Australian children’s illustrator Pixie O’Harris’s paintings created for the Manning Base Hospital in Taree. These paintings were rediscovered in 2018 and put on exhibition at the Manning Regional Gallery in 2020.
The Taree murals were among the many murals and paintings O’Harris added to the walls of children’s wards in public hospitals across New South Wales, including the Maitland Hospital.
The Maitland murals were completed in 1951. A photo spread in the Newcastle Sun at the time shows staff and children in the ward admiring the work. The photograph captions observe that O’Harris used ‘the small inmates as her models’ and name the children and staff in the photographs. The digitised versions of the newspaper are of poor quality. You can, however, discern features of the murals: the figure of a small boy being guided by a sign pointing ‘to the bathroom’; children watching butterflies; a family group encased in what looks like a hollow tree trunk.
The caption reads: ‘ Picture 1: shows Billy Logan of Oakhampton admiring the directions given to the bathroom. 2: Nurse M. Jessop explains the “picture story” to Kevin McMahon (6) of East Maitland; 3: Maitland Hospital Secretary (Mr R.L. Williams), Sister J. Hanks (sister in charge of the children’s ward) and 6-year-old Linda Johnson of Paterson inspect one of the larger murals.’
The Maitland Hospital O’Harris murals are now buried underneath subsequent layers of paint. As local resident Alan Todd recently recalled: ‘I went to the hospital to try to find evidence of where the O’Harris mural was. Nobody knew anything about it.’
The murals are an early example of what is now perceived as the therapeutic benefit of having art on and in hospital walls and spaces. An even earlier example is evident in the 1871 annual report of the hospital when it was observed:
“Then there were the pictures with which the walls were decorated, and on which the eye of the sufferer would rest in the time of his pain with far more pleasure than if he had only the bare wall before him.”
The Maitland Hospital has continued to be decorated by murals and donated artworks. The selection, style and aesthetic quality of the works changes and varies. They primarily attest to the generosity of donors and to decisions about the need to incorporate both more art and more diverse voices into the stories and imagery populating the hospital.
There are works by Indigenous artists that connect the hospital to Country as a place for health and that acknowledge previous failings of the health system for Aboriginal people.
There are overt memorial works: art donated in memory of an individual.
In 2020 and 2021, There were also a variety of other wall paintings and framed works throughout the hospital: some in place, some in storage, some hidden by renovations. Often the reasons behind their acquisition are unknown. Some of these works are listed below with their location in 2020-2021.
A selection of the paintings done by hospital staff, Richard (Dick) Breiner and Don Brook, in the refurbished children’s ward in the early 1980s.
The Maitland Mercury, 7 April 1983, reported: ‘Murals of colourful cartoon and nursery rhyme characters have been painted on walls and doors to give the ward a cheerful atmosphere.’
(Maitland Hospital Collection 342.027).
The paintings are no longer there. The photographs were supplied by Richard Breiner’s widow, Pat Breiner.
Richard Breiner also created wall paintings for the labour rooms in the maternity ward, and the Santa that, as local resident Pat Lane recalls, was on the roof and waved at Christmas time in the 1990s.
Wall painting by J.A. Leonard in the operating theatre ward.
(photographed by Catharine Neilson, June 2021)
Artwork in the anaesthetic room, operating theatre ward.
(Photographed by Catharine Neilson, June 2021)
James Casey, Capertree Valley, 1976, oil on canvas, and James Casey, Bradleys Sawmill, Yarramalong Valley, 1976, oil on canvas.
(Maitland Hospital Collection 49 and 50).
Both paintings are in storage.
d’Arcy W. Doyle, reproduction print, title and date of work not known.
(Maitland Hospital Collection 64)
This is one of two framed reproduction prints of works by d’Arcy W. Doyle hanging in Meeting Room 1 in Building K (the Administration Building).
unnamed photographer, Commitment, date unknown.
(Maitland Hospital Collection 157)
One of two framed photographs with encouragement imagery and messages. The key word for this photograph is ‘Commitment’ with a message underneath stating ‘Determination is often the first chapter in the book of excellence.’
In storage.
Philip Farley, untitled giclee print, date unknown.
(Maitland Hospital Collection 389)
There are a number of framed giclee prints by Philip Farley. One is in storage; there are others in the Maternity Unit and in Medical Records.
Maitland Region Society of Artists, mural (detail), Paediatrics Clinic, 2008.
(Maitland Hospital Collection 335)
The plaque underneath the mural reads: ‘This mural was painted by Members of the Maitland Region Society of Artists Inc. through a grant from ‘The City of the Arts’ Maitland and donated to the Paediatrics Clinic - Maitland Hospital. Presented 23.01.2008.’
Martin Hall, untitled painting, 2002.
(Maitland Hospital Collection 353)
The plaque underneath reads: ‘Donated to Maitland Hospital by Martin Hall 2002’.
unknown artist, watercolour of a tree on handmade paper, unknown date
(Maitland Hospital Collection 358)
In the office of the Safety Officer and WHS Coordinator in the Administration Building (Building K).
Keith Sanger, Shepherd St, Redfern, unknown date
(Maitland Hospital Collection 358)
One of six small framed gouaches of street scenes and buildings in Sydney’s inner west by Keith Sanger. In the corridor outside the General Manager’s Office, Building K.
John Cottrell?, Changing Seascape, 1990?
(Maitland Hospital Collection 371)
One of two framed prints by the same artist. They are signed and date: the artist’s name is possibly John Cottrell and the date 1990.
In Medical Imaging.
Kate Belton, Cairns Mud Flats, undated.
(Maitland Hospital Collection 379)
Donated by the Volunteers.
In the Intensive Care Unit.
Robyn Pedley, One, 2014, 11/250.
(Maitland Hospital Collection 380)
Limited edition print of original artwork, on cotton rag paper.
In the Intensive Care Unit.
Lyn Ellison, untitled print, undated, 23/600.
(Maitland Hospital Collection 391)
One of two prints by Lyn Ellison in the Maternity Unity.
As with the Philip Farley prints in the Maternity Unit, these appeared on the walls following renovations.
Originally posted: 9 April 2021
Updated: 19 August 2021