Royal Brisbane Hospital Nurses' Homes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Royal Brisbane Hospital Nurses' Homes |
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Lady Lamington Nurses Home in foreground, high-rise Nurses' Home behind, 2008
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| Location | Royal Brisbane Hospital, Herston Road, Herston, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s–1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1896–1939 |
| Architect | Robin Dods, Hall & Dods, Atkinson & Conrad |
| Architectural style(s) | Arts and Crafts, Spanish Mission style |
| Official name: Nurses' Homes, Royal Brisbane Hospital (including Lady Lamington and Blocks 1 and 2), Lady Lamington Nurses' Home, Nurses' Homes Blocks 1 and 2 | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600223 |
| Significant period | 1896, 1914, 1931, 1936, 1939 (fabric) 1890s–1980s (historical) |
| Significant components | trees/plantings, courtyard, residential accommodation – nurses' quarters, garden – ornamental/flower |
| Builders | George Day and J. Hutchinson & Sons (now Hutchinson Builders) for Lady Lamington Tower 1 (c. 1936) |
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The Royal Brisbane Hospital Nurses' Homes are a group of historic buildings in Herston, Queensland, Australia. They were built between 1896 and 1939 to provide places for nurses to live. These homes include the Lady Lamington Nurses' Home and Nurses' Homes Blocks 1 and 2. They are important because of their history and design, and were added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 1992.
Contents
A Look Back: History of the Nurses' Homes
The Royal Brisbane Hospital Nurses' Homes are made up of three main buildings. The Lady Lamington Nurses' Home was built in three parts between 1896 and 1931. Nurses' Homes Blocks 1 and 2 were built later, in 1936 and 1939.
Early Hospital Days
The Royal Brisbane Hospital, first called the Brisbane Hospital, started in Herston in 1866. Other hospitals, like the Hospital for Sick Children, were built nearby. Over time, more hospital buildings were added up the hill.
Lady Lamington Nurses' Home
Nurses needed better places to live. So, in 1896, the first part of the Lady Lamington Nurses' Home was built. It was placed on top of a hill, looking over the hospital. Architect Robin Dods designed the L-shaped building. It had rooms for about 50 nurses. The rooms had low walls to help with air flow.
The building was made of brick and had a special tiled roof. This roof was one of the first of its kind in Queensland. Verandahs wrapped around the building. Steps leading to a courtyard garden were a popular spot for nurses' photos.
In 1914, the building was made into a "U" shape with more additions. The firm Hall & Dods, led by Robin Dods, became very famous. They designed many buildings, including other parts of the Brisbane Hospital. The Lady Lamington Nurses' Home was named after the wife of the state's Governor at the time.
Growing Hospital, More Homes
The 1920s and 1930s were a time of big growth for the hospital. The government started taking more responsibility for health services. This meant many more nurses were needed.
In 1931, architects Atkinson and Conrad added a third wing to the Lady Lamington building. This made it look like an "E" shape. Soon after, two tall tower blocks, Block 1 (1936) and Block 2 (1939), were built. These towers were connected to the Lady Lamington building.
The towers had a similar layout to the older homes. They had a central hallway with small rooms opening onto verandahs. But their style was very different. They used the Spanish Mission style, which was popular for hospitals then. These towers also provided space for nurse training.
Architects Atkinson and Conrad were very important during this time. They designed many buildings in the Spanish Mission style. They continued to design for the Brisbane Hospital for many years.
Changes Over Time
For a long time, nurses lived at the hospital. This was seen as important for how the hospital worked. But over the years, things changed. Nurses no longer needed to live on-site as much. In 2012, reports said the Lady Lamington Nurses' Home was not being looked after well.
What They Look Like: Description
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The Nurses' Homes are three buildings linked together. They form a complex around several courtyards.
Lady Lamington Nurses' Home
The Lady Lamington Nurses' Home is a lower brick building. It has an E-shape when seen from above. It features timber verandahs and tiled roofs. It sits on a steep hill, offering great views. Its courtyards face east and have lovely gardens with mature palms and flowers.
This building was built in three stages. The oldest part (1896) has two floors and a basement. Because of the sloping land, one part of the building is five storeys tall. Concrete stairs lead from the verandahs to the courtyard gardens. These stairs have concrete spheres on low pillars.
The verandahs have simple timber railings. They also have arched timber decorations between the posts. The verandah floors are made of timber in the oldest part and concrete in the newer parts. External fire escape stairs connect the verandahs vertically.
The building has a gambrel roof and brick chimneys. The bricks in the oldest section have a red coating. They are painted to look like a different brick pattern.
Inside, long central hallways connect all the wings. Small, identical rooms line both sides of the hallways. Each room opens onto a verandah through large windows. The ceilings are made of corrugated iron.
Smart Design for Climate
The buildings were designed to stay cool and comfortable:
- They are on top of a ridge, catching breezes.
- Wide verandahs are on all sides.
- Large windows in each room open onto the verandahs.
- Inner walls were designed to allow air to flow through.
Tower Blocks 1 and 2
The two eight-storey towers, Blocks 1 and 2, look similar. They form two sides of a paved yard. The bottom two floors are made of brick. The upper six floors are covered in white painted cement.
Arcaded verandahs run along the northern and southern sides. These towers have many decorative features of the Spanish Mission style. This includes textured walls, arched openings, fancy columns, and decorative brackets. The windows have metal frames and small panes of glass.
Both buildings have flat roofs with sloped tiled walls around the edge. Lift motor rooms stick up above the roof. They have tiled walls and decorative tops.
Lifts and staircases are at the eastern ends of the buildings. Another concrete staircase is at the western ends. Long central hallways connect the rooms on almost every floor. Each room opens onto a verandah through timber french doors. The lowest floor of the southern building has a large recreation room with a stage.
Why They're Important: Heritage Listing
The Royal Brisbane Hospital Nurses' Home is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register. This means it's a very important historical place. It was listed on 21 October 1992 for several reasons.
Showing Queensland's History
The Lady Lamington Nurses' Home became a well-known landmark in 1896. For almost 100 years, it showed the important role of nurses in healthcare. When the hospital grew taller in the 1920s, the eight-storey Nurses' Homes Blocks 1 and 2 also became very visible. They reminded people of the hospital's growth and new health policies.
Special Design and Layout
The Nurses' Homes are a key part of the hospital's living area. They show how important on-site housing was for the hospital to work well. Lady Lamington is the oldest and most complete nurses' quarters in Queensland. All three buildings have a similar plan. They have many rooms along a central hallway, surrounded by verandahs. The courtyards and gardens of Lady Lamington also helped create a nice, private living space.
Beautiful Architecture
The Lady Lamington building is a beautiful example of the Arts and Crafts style. Its detailed design and construction make the most of its amazing location on the hill.
Creative and Technical Achievements
The Lady Lamington Nurses' Home shows early ideas about designing buildings for Queensland's climate. It used features like verandahs, good air flow, and large windows. These ideas were very important to architect Robin Dods. He was known for adapting Queensland's building style.
Important People and Groups
Lady Lamington was the first building in Queensland designed by Robin Dods. He is considered one of Queensland's best architects. This building also started a long relationship between his firm, Hall and Dods, and the hospital.
The firm Atkinson and Conrad were also very important hospital architects. They designed many buildings for the Brisbane Hospital from the 1920s to the 1980s. They used the Spanish Mission style, which became the hospital's main style. Nurses' Homes Blocks 1 and 2 show their work and connect to the older Lady Lamington Home.
