Balmain Hospital Main Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Balmain Hospital Main Building |
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Balmain Hospital main building, 2011
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| Location | Booth Street, Balmain, Inner West Council, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1880 |
| Architect | E. J. Bowen |
| Owner | NSW Department of Health |
| Official name: Balmain Hospital - Main Building; Administration Building; Evans Ward; Victoria Ward | |
| Type | state heritage (complex / group) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 814 |
| Type | Hospital |
| Category | Health Services |
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The Balmain Hospital Main Building is a very old and important hospital building in Balmain, Sydney, Australia. It was designed by E. J. Bowen and built way back in 1880. This building is also known as the Administration Building and includes two special parts called the Evans Ward and the Victoria Ward. It's owned by the NSW Department of Health and is listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register because of its history and unique design.
A Hospital for the Community
The story of Balmain Hospital began with a small house called Alderley. We don't know exactly when it was built. In 1884, people in Balmain wanted a local hospital. They got a small house near the town hall for free from the government. Soon, more space was needed. So, the Alderley house was bought in 1885 to become part of the hospital.
Growing Bigger: New Wards and Name Changes
The hospital grew over time. The Evans Ward was added in 1896. A few years later, the Victoria Ward was built in 1901. In 1907, more rooms were added above Alderley for nurses to live. At this time, the hospital's name changed to the Balmain District Hospital.
What the Building Looks Like
The Balmain Hospital Main Building has three main parts. These are the central administration section, the Evans Ward, and the Victoria Ward. Each part has its own special features.
Central Administration Section
This part is the middle section of the main building. It connects the Evans and Victoria Wards. It has three floors and is built in a style called Federation Anglo-Dutch. This style was popular around the time Australia became a federation.
Key Features of the Administration Building
The outside of the building looks mostly the same as it did long ago. It has red bricks with painted stone or stucco (a type of plaster) trim. There are enclosed verandahs (porches) on the upper floor. These are separated by a fancy wall at the top, called a parapeted gable. This gable shows the hospital's name and the year it started. The ground floor also has an enclosed verandah. It has modern glass windows set into old brick arches. The lowest floor has painted cement and sandstone. It has small windows that let light into the basement. The roof is simple and sloped, covered with terracotta tiles.
Inside, you can see two different building styles. This shows how the building changed over time. The oldest parts are from the mid-to-late 1800s, and newer parts are from the Federation period.
Evans Ward
The Evans Ward is on the left side of the administration building. It has two floors and is also built in the Federation Anglo-Dutch style. Most of its original parts are still there, both inside and out.
Details of the Evans Ward
It has a small, balanced front with a part that sticks out, called a bay window. It uses red bricks with painted stone trim. There's a fancy gable at the top with a roof vent. The roof is sloped and covered with terracotta tiles. The windows are made of timber. Inside, the ground floor has original timber skirting boards and trim. The ceilings are made of ornate pressed metal. There are also metal columns that support the building. Fireplaces on the ground floor have been filled in. The ground floor also has special leadlight windows and doors. These were common in the early Federation period.
Victoria Ward
The Victoria Ward is on the right side of the administration building. It looks almost exactly like the Evans Ward from the outside. However, the bricks are a slightly different color. This shows that the two wards were built at different times.
Building Changes Over Time
The original house, "Alderley," is still partly buried under the current Administration building.
- Around 1890: Booth House was built.
- 1896: The Evans Ward was added.
- 1901: The Victoria Ward was added.
- 1907: The front and upper floor of the Administration building were added. This connected the Evans and Victoria Wards.
- 1907: Some parts of the verandah on the north side of the Evans Ward were changed. Some openings were filled in.
- 1965: New tiles were put on the roofs of the Evans and Victoria Wards.
- 1978: The verandah at the Evans Ward was enclosed.
Why This Building is Important
The Balmain Hospital (including the Administration Building, Evans Ward, and Victoria Ward) is important for many reasons. It was one of the first "cottage hospitals" in Sydney. These small hospitals were a big step forward in healthcare. The building also shows how a middle-class home was changed to serve the needs of a growing working-class community. This shows how the local area changed over time.
The hospital has been a key part of the Balmain community for a long time. It started in 1885 because local people wanted it. Even today, it is still valued by many people in the area. The Evans Ward, Victoria Ward, and Administration Building all show great architectural design. You can still see how the building changed from a home to a hospital.
Historical Significance
The Main Administration Building, with the Evans and Victoria Wards, clearly shows a major period of hospital growth. This happened in the late 1800s and early 1900s. It also shows parts of the original hospital cottage that existed before the hospital was officially started. The parts added during the hospital's growth are mostly still intact. This building is still seen as the main part of the hospital by the community. Over the years, the building has also been changed to meet new needs.
Architectural Beauty
The Main Administration Building is the most beautiful part of the hospital site. Its outside still has most of its original design and features. Only the slate roofs and chimneys were removed. The fronts of the Evans and Victoria Wards are examples of the Federation Anglo-Dutch style. This style started in Britain as a reaction against older classical and Gothic styles. Not many buildings in Australia still show this style, which makes the Balmain Hospital quite rare and special. It's a simple but beautiful example of this architectural style.
Community Connection
People in the community see this building as a very important part of the hospital. Even though some parts of the building are used differently now, most of the original details and layout from the early 1900s remain. This helps us understand how the building was used in the past.
