Old Cooktown Hospital facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Old Cooktown Hospital |
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Old Cooktown Hospital, now Jehovah's Witness Kingdom Hall, 2010
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| Location | May Street, Cooktown, Shire of Cook, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s–1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1879–c. 1881 |
| Architect | Francis Drummond Greville Stanley |
| Official name: Cooktown Hospital (former), Cooktown Hospital, Jehovah's Witness Kingdom Hall | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600424 |
| Significant period | 1879–1881 (fabric) 1870s–1980s (historical) |
| Builders | Alfred Doorey & Son |
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The Old Cooktown Hospital is a historic building in Cooktown, Australia. It used to be a public hospital and is now a Jehovah's Witness Kingdom Hall. The building was designed by Francis Drummond Greville Stanley and built between 1879 and 1881. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on October 21, 1992, because of its important history.
Contents
A Look Back: The Hospital's History
The Cooktown Hospital was built from 1879 to 1881. It replaced an earlier, temporary hospital from 1874.
Cooktown's Early Days
Cooktown started in October 1873. It was a port and supply center for the Palmer River goldfields. When people first arrived in Cooktown in 1873-1874, they faced many problems. There wasn't enough food, there were floods, and people got sick. Because of this, a hospital was urgently needed.
In March 1874, a group formed to raise money for a temporary hospital. The first Cook District Hospital was a small wooden building. It was built in April 1874. The government also promised money for a permanent hospital if the public raised an equal amount.
A Bigger Hospital is Needed
The first hospital was small. It served a very large area, including the Endeavour, Palmer, Daintree, and Mossman river districts. Soon, it was clear the small building was not big enough.
In 1878, the Queensland colonial government agreed to build a permanent hospital. They set aside money for it. In April 1879, the government architect, Stanley, was asked to draw up the plans.
Designing the Hospital
Stanley's plan was for a strong wooden building. On the ground floor, it had three large wards for patients. It also had a day room, a place to prepare medicine, and an eye doctor's room. Bathrooms were on the back verandah. Toilets were in the backyard, connected by walkways.
The middle part of the building had an upper floor. This floor had one large, bright, and airy ward. Stanley's design followed a popular idea called the "pavilion plan." This plan focused on good air flow and cleanliness. Doctors at the time believed diseases spread through bad air. So, the Cooktown Hospital had large, airy wards and wide verandahs. The upper ward had extra windows for light and air.
Building the Hospital
Builders were asked to submit bids in June 1879. Alfred Doorey & Son won the contract in August. In September, Stanley visited Cooktown to choose the exact spot for the hospital. It was placed on a large piece of land, showing how important Cooktown was at the time.
The hospital was built in stages. The main building started in 1879. A second contract for the kitchen and other small buildings was given in November 1880. Later, more rooms were added for different groups of people. Over its 105 years as a hospital, changes were made inside to keep up with new medical practices.
The Cooktown Hospital was strong. It survived big storms in 1907 and 1949. During World War II, it was even used as an Air Force hospital.
A New Purpose
In the mid-1980s, a new hospital was built nearby. In 1986, the original building was bought by the local Jehovah's Witness group. They moved the building to its current spot on May Street. The building was changed a bit when it was moved. The service wing, which held the kitchen and laundry, did not survive the move.
Even though it moved and changed, the Old Cooktown Hospital is still important. It reminds people of Cooktown's gold rush days. It is also a popular place for tourists to visit.
What the Old Hospital Looks Like
The former Cooktown Hospital is made of timber. It has a two-story front section that faces May Street. Behind it is a long, single-story wing. The way these parts are connected now is not how they were originally.
Outside Features
The ground floor has a wide verandah all around it. This verandah still has parts of the original structure. It is held up by wooden posts with decorative brackets. A simple wooden battened balustrade runs along the edge. The ground floor has an exposed timber frame. It has single windows and French doors placed evenly along its sides.
The upper story is covered with chamferboards, which are like weatherboards. The front (western) side has three windows together, with two more windows on each side. These windows have a continuous hood above them. This hood has a decorated edge and is supported by timber brackets. The roof is covered in corrugated iron and shaped like a pyramid. It has a glass lantern at the very top. Small gabled roofs are in the center of the verandah and the second-story roof. These highlight the main entrance.
Inside the Building
On the ground floor, the original wooden wall panels have been covered with plasterboard. The ceilings in the front part of the ground floor are also covered with plasterboard. However, in the back section, you can still see the original exposed timber truss and wooden ceilings. The original stairs to the first floor are still there. The ceiling on the first floor also shows the timber truss system and wooden panels.
Why It's a Heritage Site
The Old Cooktown Hospital was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register in 1992. This means it's considered very important because of several reasons:
- It shows Queensland's history: The hospital, built in 1879-1881, helps us understand how Cooktown grew. Cooktown was a key port and supply center during the important Palmer River gold rush.
- It's a rare building: It's one of the few old hospital buildings from the 1800s left in Queensland. It's even rarer as an 1870s hospital designed for a tropical climate, following the "pavilion plan" for good ventilation.
- It shows how hospitals were designed: Even though it was moved and changed, the building still has many original parts. The two-story section shows how people in the late 1800s thought about getting enough fresh air and light into hospitals, especially in a warm climate.
- It looks beautiful: The building, with Mount Cook in the background, still has its attractive look from the late 1800s.
- It's important to the community: Local people feel a strong connection to the building. They see it as a symbol of Cooktown's exciting gold rush period. They also promote it as a place for tourists to visit.
