Croydon Hospital Ward facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Croydon Hospital Ward |
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Croydon Hospital Ward, 1994
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| Location | Sircom Street, Croydon, Shire of Croydon, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s–1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1894 |
| Official name: Croydon State Emergency Services Building, Croydon Hospital Ward | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600438 |
| Significant period | 1894 (fabric) 1890s–1980s (historical) |
| Significant components | garage, ward – enclosed |
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The Croydon Hospital Ward is a historic building in Croydon, Queensland, Australia. It used to be part of the Croydon Hospital. This building was constructed in 1894. Today, it is also known as the Croydon State Emergency Services Building. It was officially added to the Queensland Heritage Register on October 21, 1992, because of its important history.
Contents
A Look Back: History of the Hospital Ward
The Croydon Hospital Ward was built in 1894. It served as a patient ward for the main Croydon Hospital.
Gold Rush and Town Growth
In the early 1880s, gold was found near Croydon. This discovery led to a "gold rush." Many people moved to the area hoping to find gold. On January 18, 1886, Croydon was officially declared a goldfield. By the end of that year, about 2,000 people lived there.
The first hospital was built in 1886. It was a simple building with hessian walls and a tin roof. Soon after, more hospital buildings were added.
Croydon grew quickly. By 1897, it was one of the biggest towns in North Queensland. The town's growth was helped by shipping routes and a new railway line. With so many people, a bigger hospital was needed. So, in 1894, this second ward building was constructed. It was paid for by a large gift of money.
Changes Over Time
The gold rush in Croydon did not last forever. By the early 1900s, less gold was being found. After World War I, gold mining almost stopped. By 1925, the goldfield was mostly closed.
As a result, the town's population dropped. Croydon became a center for farming instead of gold mining. The hospital sometimes struggled to stay open. The last resident doctor left in 1934. After that, the Flying Doctor Service started visiting Croydon regularly from 1953.
In the early 1980s, the old hospital buildings were thought to be too old for modern use. This ward building was then moved from its original spot to where it stands today. It is now looked after by the Croydon Shire Council.
What the Building Looks Like
The former Croydon Hospital ward building is a single-story timber building. It is located on the corner of Sircom and Brown Streets in Croydon. A timber picket fence surrounds the property.
Building Features
The building has a rectangular shape. It has a verandah that goes all the way around it. Part of the verandah on the north-western side has been enclosed to create more rooms. The building sits on low stumps. Its roof is a hipped roof covered with corrugated iron. It also has two roof vents.
You enter the building through a small porch on the verandah facing Brown Street. There are also stairs at the back and side of the verandah. French doors open into the main hall from the center of each end of the building.
The verandahs are quite wide, about 3.7 meters. They have strong timber posts and decorative arches. The outside walls are made of timber boards. The Brown Street side has five windows that can be opened outwards. Inside the main hall, the walls and ceiling are lined with a material called fibro sheet.
Later Additions
The verandah on the south-west side has been filled in to create more rooms. These rooms have external timber boards and smaller windows.
At the back of the property, there are two sheds. The one closest to the building is a corrugated iron garage with two rooms. It has a gabled roof over the rooms and a lean-to roof over the garage area. There is also a newer metal building behind it.
Why It's a Heritage Site
The former Croydon Hospital Ward was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register in 1992. This means it is considered an important historical place. It meets certain rules to be on this list.
Showing Queensland's History
This building helps us understand how Croydon and the surrounding area developed. It shows how important the town was when the goldfield was at its busiest.
Beautiful Design
Even though the building was moved, its shape, size, and materials fit in with other old public buildings in Croydon. These buildings, like the old town hall and the Club Hotel, give the town its unique look.
Important to the Community
The former hospital ward building has a long and special connection with the people of Croydon. For many years, it was a central place for providing hospital care to the community.
