Mossman District Hospital facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mossman District Hospital
Mossman District Hospital, 2020
Location	Johnston Road, Mossman, Shire of Douglas, Queensland, Australia
Design period	1919 - 1930s (interwar period)
Built	circa 1930
Architect	Hill & Taylor
Architectural style(s)	Spanish Mission
Queensland Heritage Register
Official name: Mossman District Hospital
Type	state heritage (landscape, built)
Designated	12 June 2009
Reference no.	602713
Significant period	1920s-1940s
Significant components	gate - entrance, garden/grounds, theatre - operating, residential accommodation - nurses' quarters, residential accommodation - doctor's house/quarters, ward - block, residential accommodation - staff quarters
Builders	J J Riley
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The Mossman District Hospital is a special old hospital in Mossman, Queensland, Australia. It's famous for its unique look, called the Spanish Mission style. This hospital was designed by architects Hill & Taylor and built around 1930. Today, it's protected as a heritage site because of its important history and beautiful design.

A Look Back: Hospital History

Building the Hospital

The Mossman District Hospital was built around 1930. A builder named J. J. Riley constructed it for the Port Douglas Hospitals Board. It officially opened on August 23, 1930. James Kenny, a local politician, was there for the opening.

The hospital's first plans were made around 1925 by the Department of Public Works. These plans were for a typical timber hospital. However, around 1928, architects Hill and Taylor from Cairns changed the design. They added concrete fronts in the popular Spanish Mission style.

Mossman's Growth

Mossman is a town located inland from Port Douglas. It sits on the Mossman River flood-plain, between the Great Dividing Range and the coast. It's about 70 kilometres (43 miles) north of Cairns.

Port Douglas was started in 1877. It was a port for the Hodgkinson goldfield. But when the Cairns-Kuranda railway line was built (1882–1891), Port Douglas became less important.

The Mossman area first grew crops like maize and fruit for the goldfields. In the 1890s, farmers switched to growing sugar. This made the area very successful in the early 1900s.

The town of Mossman began after the Mossman Central Mill was built in 1894–1895. In 1911, a big cyclone badly damaged many buildings in Mossman and Port Douglas. After this, many businesses moved from Port Douglas to Mossman. By the 1920s, Mossman was the main centre for the Douglas Shire. The Captain Cook Highway, completed in 1933, also helped Mossman grow.

Hospitals in Queensland

Before 1930, the local hospital was in Port Douglas. It was built around 1878. Volunteer groups ran these early hospitals. They raised money through donations and local events. The Queensland Government did not fully fund public hospitals back then. They helped with designs and paid doctors, but local communities had to raise money for building and running costs.

The Hospitals Act of 1923 changed things. This law gave the Queensland Government more responsibility for healthcare. It also allowed them to fund hospital construction. Money from the Golden Casket lottery, started in 1920, helped pay for new maternity wards and baby clinics.

The Act also created "district hospitals." Local hospital groups could become official hospital boards. These boards included both local and government representatives.

Planning the New Hospital

From 1913, the Douglas Hospital Committee met in both Port Douglas and Mossman. This showed that the community in Mossman was growing. By 1923, people in Mossman wanted a new hospital, especially a maternity hospital.

In late 1924, the Douglas Hospital Committee decided not to expand the Port Douglas hospital. They expected a new one to be built in Mossman. By January 1925, the Department of Public Works had plans for the Mossman hospital. It would have a main building, a maternity ward, and nurses' quarters.

These buildings were designed to be single-storey timber structures. They were raised high on stumps with wide verandahs. This was a common design called the "pavilion-ward type." This style was popular from the 1860s to the 1930s. It focused on good ventilation, light, and cleanliness. Hospitals were often built on large, elevated areas outside of towns.

Queensland developed its own version of this hospital plan. It featured high-set timber buildings with corrugated iron roofs. Wide verandahs and ceiling vents helped with airflow. Male and female wards were often in the same building, separated by smaller rooms. Bathrooms and kitchens were in separate blocks. After 1925, operating theatres and X-ray rooms became standard.

Choosing the Site and Design

By January 1926, a large, flat site was chosen for the new hospital. It was off Johnston Road, about 0.5 miles (0.8 km) southwest of Mossman's centre. Public Works drew a plan for the site in April 1926. The main building would face east, accessed from Hospital Street.

The nurses' quarters would be to the north, and the maternity ward to the south. Both would connect to the main building with covered walkways. Other buildings, like a doctor's house, laundry, and morgue, were planned for the western side. Buildings were spaced out for future expansion.

In April 1926, the Port Douglas Hospitals Board took over from the old committee. There was a debate about whether to move the old Port Douglas hospital buildings or build new ones. Building entirely new buildings was more expensive. However, the Board got a loan of £16,000 for new construction.

The Board also asked Cairns architects Hill and Taylor to review the plans. Hill and Taylor suggested using concrete for the verandah fronts. They wanted to create a Spanish Mission style look. They believed concrete would be cheaper to maintain and better against cyclones. The Department of Public Works approved this new design.

Mossman Hospital in the Spanish Mission style, 1935

The Spanish Mission style became popular in Australia in the late 1920s. Its wide verandahs and white walls suited Queensland's warm climate. Hill and Taylor made the Mossman Hospital look very grand with this style. It's the only public hospital in Queensland with this unique exterior.

The hospital's design had simple decorations to save costs. These included curved concrete arches and Maltese crosses. The main entrance had "Mossman District Hospital" written above it.

Hospital Expansions

When it opened in 1930, the hospital had a main building with wards, an operating room, and a kitchen. It also had a maternity ward, nurses' quarters, and a doctor's home. The hospital quickly became busy as Mossman grew.

Around 1936, new nurses' quarters were built. The old nurses' quarters became a female ward. A new operating theatre was built around 1940. By 1946, the old nurses' quarters from Port Douglas were moved to the site. They became the Board Room and Secretary's Office. An isolation block was also added. New staff quarters were built around 1949.

In 1965, the old outpatients wing was replaced with a new building. This new area held administration, outpatients, and a dental clinic. Major changes happened in 1992. A large extension connected the main building to the maternity ward.

Today, the hospital is still used by Queensland Health. It has 24 beds for patients and 8 beds for aged care.

Hospital Buildings and Grounds

The Mossman Hospital is a group of low-set buildings. They are on a flat area on the western edge of Mossman. Cane fields and the Main Coast Range form a beautiful background. The buildings are surrounded by large, well-kept lawns and tropical gardens.

A long driveway, with concrete gateways, leads to the main hospital wing. This wing has a large concrete front with arched openings in the Spanish Mission style.

The main part of the hospital includes buildings from the 1930s and 1940s. These older buildings are made of timber frames with concrete outer walls. Newer buildings now fill the spaces between these older parts.

Early buildings include:

• The Main Wing (around 1930)
• The Maternity Wing (around 1930)
• The former Female Ward (built around 1930 as nurses' quarters, now the Community Health Building)
• Former Nurses' Quarters (1936, now the Dialysis Building)
• An Operating Theatre (around 1940)
• A Kitchen block (around 1930)
• A Doctor's Residence (around 1930)
• Staff quarters (around 1949)

A large, T-shaped building, built in 1991, now connects the Main Wing and Maternity Wing. Another building from 1965 links the Main Wing to the former Female Ward. An old covered walkway (around 1936) connects the former Female Ward to the former Nurses' Quarters.

Main Wing (around 1930)

The Main Wing is a long, narrow building. It has a timber frame with concrete outer walls. The roof is large and hipped, covered with corrugated metal. The white concrete walls have a smooth finish. They feature arched windows along an enclosed verandah. A larger arched entrance is in the middle.

The building is raised on concrete stumps. The concrete walls extend to the ground, with a concrete base. A concrete ramp leads to a side entrance. The main arched entrance is trimmed in red paint. The words "MOSSMAN DISTRICT HOSPITAL" are above the opening.

Decorative details include brackets between windows and Maltese cross shapes below each window. There's also scalloped edging and a circular design above the entrance. The southern side has similar details.

Inside, the Main Wing has offices and consultation rooms. Long corridors are formed by enclosed verandahs. You can still see old features like V-jointed timber boards on walls and ceilings. Many original timber doors with glass panels are also present.

Maternity Wing (around 1930)

The Maternity Wing is a smaller building to the south. It connects to the Main Wing through the 1991 extension. Its main side faces east. It's also timber-framed with concrete outer walls. It has a projecting gable (a triangular wall section) hidden behind a scalloped wall. The rest of the roof is hipped.

An L-shaped verandah runs along the building. It has arched openings and timber slat railings. Concrete steps lead to it. Like the Main Wing, it's raised on concrete stumps. The concrete walls go down to the ground, with large arched openings for air. It shares similar decorative features like brackets and scalloped edges.

The northern side also has concrete walls, arched verandah openings, and timber railings. A newer timber deck connects it to the 1991 extension.

Inside, the Maternity Wing has a ward surrounded by verandahs on three sides. The internal parts seem original, though some doors have been changed. The western verandah is now enclosed to form a corridor.

Former Nurses' Quarters (around 1930)

This building is north of the Main Wing. An extra wing was added to the back in 1991. Its main side faces east. It's timber-framed with concrete outer walls. The front is symmetrical, with central concrete steps leading to a long verandah.

The front wall has three large arched openings. Timber slat railings are on either side of the central opening. The building has a hipped roof covered in corrugated metal. The roof corners extend past the walls.

Like the other 1930 buildings, it's raised on concrete stumps. Its concrete walls extend to the ground, with arched openings for air. It has similar decorations like brackets and scalloped edges.

The northern side has similar details, but with newer aluminium windows. The southern side opens into a courtyard.

Inside, the building has offices surrounded by verandahs. The eastern and southern verandahs are still open. The northern and western ones are now enclosed to make more office space and corridors. Many original features like V-jointed boards and timber doors are still there.

Medical Superintendent's Residence (around 1930)

The Doctor's Residence is southwest of the Main Wing. It's surrounded by tropical plants. It's a timber-framed building with concrete outer walls, but it's smaller, like a house. It's raised on concrete stumps. The walls extend to the ground, with arched openings for air. It has simpler decorations than the other buildings.

Its main side faces south. A concrete wall hides a hipped roof. This wall wraps around the corners. The front is symmetrical, with central concrete steps leading to a verandah. It has arched openings with diamond shapes below the railings. Newer gates and flyscreens have been added.

The northern side has a hipped roof that extends over a secondary entrance. Details are similar, with arched openings and diamond shapes. A bathroom building from the 1950s is in front of this side.

The eastern side has concrete steps leading to the southern verandah. Octagonal and arched openings are on either side of the doorway. Some have screens, and one has a timber window.

Inside, much of the original layout and features remain. This includes V-jointed boards on walls and ceilings.

Kitchen Block (around 1930, remodelled around 1949)

The Kitchen block is a small building behind the Main Wing. It has a gabled roof and concrete outer walls. Its windows are both arched and rectangular, with decorative metal hoods. A circular design is on the southern gable.

Inside, ceilings have V-jointed boards, but walls seem to have been redone. Some internal walls might have been removed.

Former Nurses' Quarters (around 1936) (Dialysis Building)

This building is separate and connects to the former Female Ward by a covered walkway. It's northeast of the main hospital and is T-shaped. It has been recently updated.

It's built similarly to the 1930s buildings, with timber frames and concrete outer walls. Its main side faces south and is symmetrical. Two sets of concrete steps lead to the front verandah. The building has a hipped roof hidden by the walls. The verandah roof is supported by concrete posts with concrete railings.

The building is raised on concrete stumps. Its concrete walls extend to the ground, with large arched openings for air. It has similar decorations like brackets and scalloped edges. Circular concrete designs highlight the entrances. Some verandah openings have been changed with new windows.

The eastern and western sides have similar details. The northern (rear) side has a hipped roof. Some openings here have been changed, and new steps and ramps added.

This building was originally for nurses' living quarters, with verandahs on all four sides. This layout mostly remains, but internal walls have been removed to create an open space. Some verandahs are now enclosed offices. Many original features like V-jointed boards and timber doors are still visible.

Walkway (around 1936)

This walkway connects the former Nurses' Quarters and the former Female Ward. It's a timber-framed structure with half-height walls and a curved roof. It's supported on concrete stumps, and the area below is enclosed with timber lattice. The roof is covered with corrugated metal.

Operating Theatre (around 1940)

The operating theatre is a small building between the former Female Ward and the Main Wing. A covered walkway leads to it. It has a hipped roof and concrete outer walls.

The main operating room still has its original walls. The floors and lower walls are covered in a tan-coloured terrazzo, which also seems old. Some openings in this room are original, others have been changed.

Staff Quarters (around 1949)

This building is west of the 1991 extension. It's built like the 1930s buildings but has simpler details. It has a hipped roof and concrete outer walls that go to ground level. Rectangular openings allow air to the area below.

The windows are modern aluminium glass louvres with security grilles. The entrance is on the western side, with a concrete ramp. Some original timber louvres are on the eastern side.

This building has offices and staff quarters. Many internal walls are still in their original places. Ceilings are made of fibre cement sheeting. Much of the original fabric of the eastern enclosed verandah remains.

Setting and Grounds

The Mossman Hospital buildings are surrounded by large lawns and spacious grounds. The main building's east-facing front overlooks a big lawn with trees. A U-shaped driveway is marked by concrete gateways. These gateways have a large central arch with decorative brackets and a Maltese cross design. They also have two smaller arches for people walking.

The hospital area is fenced with a modern aluminium fence. Pathways are generally concrete. Garden beds with colourful plants are found throughout the complex, marking entrances.

You can see clear views of the canefields and the Main Coast Range to the west. These views form a beautiful background for the hospital buildings. The buildings and their spacious setting are easy to see from the entrances.

Newer Buildings

Several buildings have been added over time and are not considered part of the original heritage. These include:

• The T-shaped building (around 1991-1992) between the Maternity Wing and the Main Wing.
• The building (around 1965) between the former Female Ward and the Main Wing.
• The Services Building at the back.
• The X-Ray building between the Kitchen block and the Operating Theatre.
• The new Morgue.

Why Mossman Hospital is Special

The Mossman District Hospital was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on June 12, 2009. This means it's a very important place.

Showing History

The hospital, built around 1930 with additions in the 1930s and 1940s, shows how hospitals changed in Queensland. It's proof of the Hospitals Act of 1923, which helped build more hospitals in country areas.

It also shows how Mossman became the main centre for the Douglas Shire, taking over from Port Douglas. This happened because sugar farming and milling were very important in the area. They brought in enough money and people to support a hospital in Mossman during that time.

The Mossman District Hospital is a great example of an early 20th-century "pavilion plan" hospital. Many hospitals like this were built, but only a few are still mostly intact. The original design, with separate buildings connected by walkways, is still clear. This shows a special way of designing hospitals that was popular back then. The main buildings from around 1930, along with later additions, are still there and look much like they did. The wide verandahs show how the design was changed for Queensland's warm climate.

Beautiful Design

The Mossman Hospital and its grounds are very beautiful. They have many of the original Spanish Mission style details. The hospital is set in lush gardens with amazing mountain views. The decorative concrete arches at the entrances also add to its appeal. People have loved its look since 1930. It's the only public hospital in Queensland with this Spanish Mission style exterior. Even newer parts of the hospital have been designed to match this beautiful old style.