St Andrews War Memorial Hospital Administration Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Andrews War Memorial Hospital Administration Building |
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St Andrew's War Memorial Hospital Administration Building
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| Location | 465 Wickham Terrace, Spring Hill, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1840s–1860s (mid-19th century) |
| Built | 1860s–1936 |
| Official name: St Andrews War Memorial Hospital Administration Building, Emmanuel College | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 24 March 2000 |
| Reference no. | 602170 |
| Significant period | 1860s–1930s (fabric) 1860s–1950s (historical) 1950s (social) |
| Significant components | lead light/s, residential accommodation – flat/s, furniture/fittings, residential accommodation – main house, college – residential, garden/grounds |
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The St Andrews War Memorial Hospital Administration Building is a special old building in Spring Hill, Brisbane, Australia. It used to be a house and then a college. Now, it's part of the St Andrew's War Memorial Hospital.
This building was mostly built in 1931 and 1936. But it also includes parts of a much older house from the 1860s. That house belonged to a very important person named Sir Charles Lilley. From 1912 to 1954, the building was home to Emmanuel College. This was a special place where students from the University of Queensland could live. In 1954, the college moved, and the building became part of the hospital.
Contents
A Look Back in Time
Early Days in Spring Hill
Spring Hill started to grow in the 1850s. Land was sold, and people began building homes. Important people in Brisbane built their houses along Wickham Terrace. One of these people was Sir Charles Lilley. He was a judge and a politician.
Sir Charles Lilley bought land in Spring Hill between 1863 and 1889. People believe he built a house called Jesmond Cottage around the late 1860s. This was when he was the Premier (like a state leader) of Queensland. As his family grew, he added more to the house. He also had another small house nearby for his sons.
Sir Charles Lilley's Life
Sir Charles Lilley moved to Brisbane in 1856. He worked as a lawyer and an editor. In 1858, he married Sarah Jane Jeays. Her father was Joshua Jeays, a famous architect and mayor of Brisbane.
Lilley became very successful in law and politics. He was elected to the Queensland Parliament in 1860. He became Attorney-General (the main legal advisor) in 1866. From 1868 to 1870, he was the Premier of Queensland. Later, he became the Chief Justice (the top judge) of the Supreme Court in 1879. He was even knighted in 1881.
Sir Charles Lilley is famous for making primary education free in Queensland in 1870. He passed away in 1897. His family kept the Spring Hill property until his son died in 1911. Then, the land was divided and sold.
Emmanuel College Takes Over
The University of Queensland opened in 1911. Soon after, Emmanuel College bought over an acre of land on Wickham Terrace. Emmanuel College was a living place and a training center for the Presbyterian Church. It was one of the first colleges for university students to be built in Brisbane.
In 1910, a committee was formed to raise money for the college. Many people in Brisbane donated. They decided to buy Sir Charles Lilley's old house. It was being used as a boarding house at the time. Emmanuel College opened on May 15, 1912, with five students. This building was the main part of the college for many years. There were also other small buildings on the site.
Over time, the college grew. In 1923, a new two-storey building was added. It had rooms for students, a dining room, and a billiard room. In 1927, a three-storey brick building was completed. It had a new dining hall, kitchen, and more student rooms. In 1931, the old stone house was changed a lot. A new two-storey section was added, and the stone walls were covered. More changes were made in 1936 with a new western section.
Becoming St Andrew's Hospital
After World War II, the University of Queensland moved to a new campus. Emmanuel College also moved to a new location.
Dr Alexander Mayes led a group from the Presbyterian Church. They wanted to build a hospital in Brisbane to remember Australians who died in the war. Dr Mayes dreamed of a large hospital with many specialties.
In 1954, the Presbyterian Church bought the old Emmanuel College building. They wanted to start the hospital there. In May 1958, the St Andrew's War Memorial Hospital opened. It had wards for surgery, medicine, and a small children's ward. The hospital continued to buy more land and grow over the years. The main building of the former Emmanuel College became the front of the hospital. It has been used for offices, nurses' rooms, and even a children's ward. Today, it is used for hospital administration offices.
Dr Mayes was the chairman of the hospital's board for many years. He even cooked haggis for the hospital's yearly fundraising fair!
What the Building Looks Like
The St Andrew's War Memorial Hospital Administration Building is a two-storey building. It is made of masonry (like stone or brick) with a smooth outer layer. It stands on Wickham Terrace, across from Albert Park.
A brick wall with two entrances is at the front. There's also a small garden with two flagpoles. The building has a rectangular shape with three main parts. The middle part has a pointed roof. The two side parts have sloping roofs with terracotta tiles. The roofs have wide, decorative edges.
The bottom part of the building looks strong and solid. The upper part has a line running across it at the window level. The outside of the building has many rectangular windows. The windows on the ground floor are taller. Some old wooden windows are still there, but many have been replaced. The main entrance has a concrete cover and automatic doors. There's also a fancy, arched doorway at the western end. This door has special carvings above it.
At the back of the building, you can still see parts of the original 1860s house. The middle section has painted sandstone walls and an old chimney. Inside this part, you can see how the old house was laid out. Some original door openings, decorations, and wooden floors remain. An old staircase with a curved handrail is also still there.
Many rooms have decorated plaster ceilings and fancy edges (cornices). The main entrance leads to a hallway and reception area. Hallways run through both the western and eastern parts of the building. These wings mostly have rows of small, similar-sized rooms. These rooms also have decorative ceilings.
At the far western end, there's a boardroom. It has padded walls. A different staircase is near the boardroom. It has curved metal railings and a curved wooden handrail. At the top of this staircase, there's an entrance to a separate apartment. This entrance looks like an outside door with fancy copper hinges and a special window made of colored glass (leadlight). Inside, two main rooms have wooden panels and very decorative ceilings. There's also a brick fireplace. A bathroom at the end of the hall seems to be part of this apartment. It has white tiles with black edges and colorful Art Deco style tiles. The floor has black and white tiles with a Greek key pattern.
Why This Building is Special
The St Andrews War Memorial Hospital Administration Building is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register. This means it's an important historical place. It meets several special rules:
- It shows how Queensland's history has changed.
This building shows how Spring Hill grew from early homes to important institutions like a college and a hospital. Since 1954, it has been part of St Andrew's Hospital. This shows how healthcare has changed over time.
- It is a rare example of Queensland's history.
This building is the last remaining example of an early residential college in Brisbane city. It dates back to when the University of Queensland was located in the city center. This makes it a very special and uncommon part of Queensland's history.
- It can teach us more about Queensland's history.
Because parts of the 1860s house are still there, this building can help us learn more about what houses were like in Brisbane back then.
- It looks beautiful.
The building is well-designed and has lovely decorative details. It adds a lot to the look of Wickham Terrace street.
- It is important to certain groups of people.
From 1912 until it moved, the college building was a central place for student life. It was also where the Presbyterian Church trained its ministers.
- It is connected to important people or groups.
The building has a strong connection to Emmanuel College and the Presbyterian Church. It is also linked to St Andrew's War Memorial Hospital. Most importantly, it has a special connection to Sir Charles Lilley. He was a former Premier and Chief Justice of Queensland. He also worked hard to make education free in the state.
