Musgrave House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Musgrave House |
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Musgrave House, 1999
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| Location | 8 Allpass Parade, Shorncliffe, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s–1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1884–1920s |
| Architect | Richard Gailey |
| Official name: Musgrave House, Lady Musgrave Sanitorium for Sick Children | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 22 October 1999 |
| Reference no. | 601499 |
| Significant period | 1880s–1920s (fabric) 1880s–1931 (historical) |
| Significant components | kitchen/kitchen house, toilet block/earth closet/water closet, shed/s, ward – enclosed |
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Musgrave House is a special old building in Shorncliffe, Australia. It was designed by Richard Gailey and built in 1884. This building was once known as the Lady Musgrave Sanatorium for Sick Children. It is now listed on the Queensland Heritage Register because of its important history.
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A Home for Sick Children
Musgrave House is a timber building with a high roof. It sits on a large block of land facing Cabbage Tree Creek. In 1884, it was built as a place for children to get better after being sick. These children came from the Hospital for Sick Children in Brisbane.
Why Children Needed Special Hospitals
In the 1800s, many children in Queensland got very sick. Diseases like dysentery and typhoid were common. Sadly, many young children did not survive these illnesses. At that time, hospitals often did not treat children under five years old.
This led to the idea of having hospitals just for kids. The Hospital for Sick Children in Brisbane opened in 1878. It was only the second children's hospital in all of Australia.
Lady Musgrave's Special Role
Lady Lucinda Musgrave was a very important person in starting the children's hospital. She was the first patroness, which means she supported the hospital greatly. In 1883, she had the idea for a special place where sick children could go to recover.
She worked hard to get the land in Shorncliffe for this new building. People believed that fresh air and sunlight were very important for getting well. Shorncliffe, being by the sea, was seen as the perfect spot. It offered fresh air and sea bathing.
The Architect: Richard Gailey
The building was finished in 1884 and cost about £400. The architect was Richard Gailey. He was also the official architect for the Hospital for Sick Children. He designed many parts of the main children's hospital.
Gailey also designed other buildings in the Sandgate area. These included the Sandgate Municipal Chambers and the second Sandgate Baptist Church. He was a very busy and important architect in Queensland.
How the Sanatorium Was Designed
Gailey designed the sanatorium to be very open and airy. It had a central entrance hall with large rooms, called wards, on each side. A deep verandah (a covered porch) ran along the front. This design helped with fresh air and sunlight.
The kitchen and other service areas were in a separate part of the building. This helped keep the wards quiet and clean. The design was similar to other timber hospitals built in Queensland, but on a smaller scale.
Opening and Early Days
Even though the building was ready in 1884, it didn't officially open until 1888. The hospital committee wanted to raise enough money first. They didn't want to start with debts.
Lady Musgrave herself furnished one of the wards. Other ladies also helped by providing furniture and equipment. Each ward could hold six children in cots and beds.
Life at the Sanatorium
In 1888, a newspaper described the building as a "handsome and substantial wooden structure." It said the verandah was wide and offered great protection from weather. It was also used as a play area for the children.
The sanatorium helped children get better quickly. Nurses from the Children's Hospital also came here to rest and train. Families with "sickly" children could also find a place of rest here. In 1896-97, 87 children stayed at the sanatorium.
In the 1920s, even more children came to stay. Matron Maude Flewell-Smith was in charge from 1921 to 1927. Her daughter remembered that there was a special bathing area. Her mother would take the children swimming every day in summer.
Community Support
The local people of Sandgate loved the sanatorium. They held many events to raise money for it. These events included concerts, dances, and parties. Sometimes, local children even helped organize them.
A group called the Ministering Children's League also helped. For over twenty years, they organized a Christmas party at the sanatorium. They brought toys, Santa Claus, and decorated a Christmas tree in the garden.
Changes and New Uses
In 1924, the Brisbane Hospital Board took over the Children's Hospital. By 1931, they decided to close the sanatorium. The children were moved to another nearby convalescent home.
Musgrave House was empty for a few years. Then, in 1939, it was leased out. James Brown started an "old men's home" there. He divided the rooms to make space for his tenants.
Later, in 1946, William and Mary Fitzgerald took over the lease. William was a stationmaster, and he used Musgrave House to house railway workers. In 1960, Mrs Norma Turbet took over. She eventually bought the land in 1980 and sold it in 1999.
What Musgrave House Looks Like
Musgrave House is a low timber building with a painted corrugated iron roof. It faces south-east and looks out over Cabbage Tree Creek. The building has a balanced look, with a central front verandah.
The verandah is wide and has delicate timber details. It has three wide sections with steps in the middle. The walls are made of timber boards. At the ends of the building, there are extensions with sliding windows. Some of these windows have colored glass.
Inside the House
The verandah has a timber ceiling. The walls inside are painted in shades of aqua. Four doorways lead off the verandah. The main entrance has two timber doors with glass panels.
The hallway is wide and has a high ceiling. There's a brick chimney with a fancy cedar mantelpiece on one wall. This mantelpiece has a painting of birds and flowers. There are also timber bookshelves and lockers.
The large rooms that were once the wards are now divided into smaller rooms. But you can still see the original large spaces. The ceilings are sloped and have timber beams. There are skylights and fiberglass panels to let in light.
The kitchen and former maids' rooms are in a separate building at the back. The kitchen has an old wood-burning stove and a large fridge. There's also an outdoor laundry area.
In the back garden, there's a corrugated iron shed. It has a garage and a wood-chopping area. The garden itself doesn't have many old trees.
Why Musgrave House is Important
Musgrave House is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register because it's a very important part of history.
Showing Queensland's History
This building shows how health services, especially for children, grew in Queensland. It also shows how popular Sandgate and Shorncliffe were as places for people to recover from illness. It's a great example of how volunteers helped set up health services long ago. Its later use as a boarding house also shows how Sandgate remained a popular place for such homes.
A Special Design
Musgrave House is a good example of architect Richard Gailey's work. It shows how the "pavilion plan" was used in hospital design in the 1870s and 1880s. This plan focused on open spaces and good airflow.
Beautiful to Look At
The building is also important for its beauty. Its high roof, exposed timber, and detailed verandah make it very appealing.
Connected to the Community
Musgrave House has a special connection to the people of Sandgate and Shorncliffe. For 50 years, local people raised money for the sanatorium. The children and their families were welcomed as part of the community.
Linked to Important People
The house is also linked to important women in Queensland's history. It was named after Lady Lucinda Musgrave, who was the wife of the Governor of Queensland. She was also the first patroness of the Hospital for Sick Children. Mary McConnel, who founded the Children's Hospital, also has a close connection to this place.
Images for kids
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Patients and nurse at the Lady Musgrave Sanatorium
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Arrival of Santa Claus at the Lady Musgrave Sanatorium
