Newcastle Hospital facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Newcastle Hospital (fmr) |
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Old Newcastle Hospital
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| Alternative names | Toodyay Hospital, Toodyay Public Hospital |
| General information | |
| Architectural style | Victorian Homestead |
| Address | 7 Henry Street West |
| Town or city | Toodyay |
| Country | Australia |
| Coordinates | 31°33′17″S 116°28′14″E / 31.554816°S 116.47049°E |
| Construction started | 1892 |
| Completed | 1894 |
| Design and construction | |
| Main contractor | Wroth & Lloyd |
The Newcastle Hospital in Toodyay, Western Australia was finished in 1894. It was the only hospital built specifically for the town. At that time, the town was known as Newcastle.
Building the Hospital
Work on the hospital began in 1892. However, construction stopped for a while. It then started again and was completed in 1894. This new hospital replaced an older health center. That center was located in the Toodyay Convict Depot infirmary building, which was built in 1854. In 1896, a new local court house was built next to the old infirmary.
Why the Hospital Closed
In 1901, officials looked into how much it cost to run the hospital. Dr. Thomas Henry Lovegrove led this investigation. He was the main medical officer for Western Australia. The hospital's yearly costs were almost £300. This included the doctor's pay, an orderly's pay, and patient care.
However, only 17 patients were treated between 1901 and 1902. Seriously ill patients often went to Northam hospital. That hospital was only about 17 miles away. It also had much better equipment. Dr. Lovegrove decided that building the Newcastle Hospital was too soon. So, in 1902, the hospital closed down. The staff were let go, and most of the hospital's items were sent to a new hospital in Katanning, Western Australia.
Reopening and Final Closure
In late 1906, a serious sickness called diphtheria spread in the area. Because of this, a part of the hospital reopened in 1907. By 1910, the State Government and the Newcastle Road Board worked together. They shared the costs of keeping the building running. The hospital continued to operate until 1940.
