Rusten House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Old Queanbeyan Hospital |
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| Location | Antill Street, Queanbeyan, Queanbeyan-Palerang Region, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1859–1862 |
| Architect | W. H.Downey (1859-61 sections) |
| Owner | Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council |
| Official name: Old Queanbeyan Hospital - Rusten House; Rusten House; Queanbeyan General Hospital; Old Queanbeyan Hospital; Nurses Dormitory | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 552 |
| Type | Hospital |
| Category | Health Services |
| Builders | Daniel, Jordan and Gibson |
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Rusten House, now called the Rusten House Art Centre, is a special old building in Queanbeyan, Australia. It used to be a hospital and a place where nurses lived. It was designed by W. H. Downey and built between 1859 and 1862. Today, it is a lively art centre that shows local and travelling art. It also hosts community and private events. The Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council owns it. This important building was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.
Contents
A Look Back at Rusten House
Queanbeyan is a town with a long history. It was known as Quinbean until 1838, which means "clear waters." The land around Queanbeyan traditionally belongs to the Ngunnawal Aboriginal people. When settlers from Europe arrived, they brought new diseases. These diseases sadly affected the local Aboriginal communities.
Europeans first came to this area in 1820. The spot became a natural stopping point for travellers. By 1824, new settlers started setting up farms. Old maps from 1833 show many farms in the area. The first Post Office opened in 1836. In 1837, Captain Alured Tasker Faunce became the local Police Magistrate.
Queanbeyan officially became a town in 1838. About 50 people lived there at that time. Gold was found nearby in 1851, and lead and silver mines also started for a short time. Famous bushrangers like John Tennant and Ben Hall were active in the area.
The Hospital's Beginnings
The Queanbeyan District Hospital started because local people wanted to help the sick. In 1847, they formed a group called the Benevolent Society. Their goal was to run a hospital for people who were poor or injured. MaryAnn Rusten was the first head nurse, called a matron. The hospital first operated in a rented small house.
Rusten House was built to replace this first hospital. It was meant to serve the community better. In 1847, the first meeting for the Queanbeyan District Hospital took place.
In 1859, W. H. Downey was asked to design a new hospital building. He drew plans for a stone building that could hold up to 16 patients. Local builders Daniel, Jordan, and Gibson began construction. The building was finished in 1861.
In 1862, a special party was held to celebrate the new hospital opening. The Rusten family, including Matron MaryAnn Rusten, moved into the new hospital. In 1865, the hospital received its first money from the Government of New South Wales.
Growing and Changing
In 1868, George Campbell became the President of the Hospital Committee. This started a long connection between the Campbell family and the hospital. In 1870, trees like oaks, elms, and pines were planted around the hospital.
In 1871, a kitchen with a brick floor was built. In 1875, Matron Rusten passed away while still working at the hospital. A wash house and a covered walkway were also built that year. In 1876, large iron tanks were put in to collect rainwater from the roof. Dr. Sidney Longden Richardson started working at the hospital in 1877. He worked there for 41 years.
By 1884, the hospital treated 42 patients. In 1885, a large new ward was added for patients with fevers. This helped the hospital treat more people, and they cared for 98 patients that year.
In the 1890s, rules about who could be admitted changed. In 1892, the NSW Government applied a new law to the hospital. This law meant the hospital had to accept all patients, even if they couldn't pay. The hospital land was also fenced, and the buildings got new metal roofs. A skylight was added to the boardroom.
From Hospital to Arts Centre
As times changed, so did the hospital's role. By the early 1900s, it was a community hospital. A new, bigger hospital was built in the 1930s. Rusten House then became a place for nurses to live. It was later used for other purposes over many years.
In 1924, plans for a new hospital building on the same site were drawn up. The new hospital opened in 1933. Rusten House was then changed into a dormitory for nurses. Walls and bathrooms were added inside for the nurses. Verandahs (covered porches) were also changed to create more space.
In 1988, Rusten House was given a special protection order. It was officially listed on the NSW State Heritage Register in 1999. This protected the original hospital building and its surrounding gardens.
In 2014, some important work was done on the building. Asbestos, a harmful material, was removed. Basic repairs were made to fix structural problems. This work was done to make the building safer and more useful. In 2016, the state government gave money to turn Rusten House into an arts and cultural hub. The local council also added money.
In April 2021, the Rusten House Art Centre officially opened to the public. It featured many art shows, including a display about the building's history as a hospital.
What Rusten House Looks Like
Rusten House is located within the area of the current Queanbeyan Hospital. It sits on rising ground at the corner of Collett and Antill Streets. The building is close to Collett Street.
The main front of the building faces Antill Street. However, because the land slopes, you can barely see the building from that street. There are beautiful terraced gardens from the 1920s in front of the building. These gardens are still well-kept today.
Rusten House has two main parts. The larger stone section was built in 1861. It is set back from the road. In 1885, a separate building called the Fever Ward was built closer to Collett Street. Originally, there was no direct way to get between the two buildings. However, the space between them has since been enclosed. Now, both buildings are together called Rusten House.
Rusten House is a single-storey building. It was originally divided into two main wards: one for males and one for females. The building is made of stone from the local area. It has timber verandahs and a corrugated iron roof. Even with many changes over the years, you can still see its original design.
Why Rusten House is Special
Rusten House and its surrounding area are very important for history and architecture. It is one of the oldest public buildings still standing in Queanbeyan. It was Queanbeyan's second hospital and served the town for 72 years, starting in 1861.
This building is also important because it was the main hospital for Australia's new capital, Canberra, from 1911. It was the only hospital serving the federal territory for many years. It continued to treat patients from Canberra into the 1930s.
Rusten House shows how Queanbeyan grew into a major regional centre. It also helps us understand how hospitals and public health worked in the mid-1800s.
Here are some reasons why Rusten House is considered special:
- It shows history: The site can teach us about how the landscape and buildings have changed over the last 145 years.
- It connects to people: It is linked to Mary Rusten, the first matron (head nurse) of the hospital.
- It's important to the community: It has strong ties to the local community because it was the general hospital for so long (1861-1933).
- It looks good: The buildings have a special look with different styles and beautiful gardens.
- It can teach us more: The site might have old items hidden underground that could help us learn more about its past.
- It's rare: It is one of the oldest public buildings still standing in Queanbeyan.
- It's a good example: It is a clear example of one of the earliest public hospitals in regional New South Wales.
Old Queanbeyan Hospital was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999 because it met these important criteria.
Images for kids
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Rusten House, now the Rusten House Art Centre.
