Titillating stories.
Former Maitland Hospital employee Graham Brazier made this video. It provides some final images of the nurses’ residence that served the Maitland Hospital from the late 1920s until its demolition in 1993, and it has the hospital Executive Officer of the time, Ron Pickett, with a twinkle in his eye, talking about the ‘titillating stories’ that ‘have been passed down’ about living in the residence.
The nurses’ residence, about 1930.
(Maitland Hospital Collection 11)
‘Nurses’ quarters - sketch plan prepared’, Maitland Mercury, 9 July 1926, p. 4.
On 2 May 1920 the Maitland Mercury reported that The Maitland Hospital ‘wards are full, and even verandahs and x-ray rooms are being used to accommodate patients.’ The trustees were looking to expand and, particularly, to provide residential accommodation for the nurses in order to free up space in the hospital buildings. Initially, they planned to acquire and convert the Royal Oak Hotel that had stood on a site adjacent to the hospital since the late 1840s. In the end, it was decided that it would be better to demolish the hotel and create purpose-built nurses’ quarters. There was also the desire to acquire some of the grounds around the hotel ‘for grazing, and for poultry purposes, with a view to reducing the high cost of milk, butter, and eggs, amounting to £70 per month’ (Maitland Mercury, 22 Sep 1920)
It took eight years of negotiations with the state government to realise the building of the first stage of the new nurses’ quarters (see the previous photograph). The hospital sought financial assistance. The state government prevaricated. Eventually, terms were agreed, costs were shared and the new nurses’ quarters were designed and built through the NSW government architect’s office.
The first stage was opened in October 1928 (Maitland Mercury, 29 Oct 1928).
Extended in the late 1930s and, in the 1960s, connected to the new nurses’ home (Building F), the building remained a significant feature of the Maitland Hospital and its streetscape until its demolition in the early 1990s.
The building was demolished to make way for an expensive redevelopment of the hospital. Before demolition there was talk of saving significant items and features. To date, two items from the nurses’ home are in the Maitland Hospital Collection: the foundation stone and one of the ornate capitals from the columns on the front of the building.
