The first hospital at Windsor appears to have been established in a brewery once owned by Andrew Thompson. Governor King permitted Andrew Thompson to establish a brewery on South Creek in 1806.
Andrew Thompson died of tuberculosis on 23rd October, 1810, following exposure to the elements during rescue work in the floods of 1809. Thompson bequeathed one quarter of his estate, valued at ten thousand pounds, to Governor Macquarie, who had appointed him Magistrate at the Hawkesbury in early 1810.
In 1812, Andrew Thompson's brewery was leased by the Government. The ground floor was occupied by the Windsor detachment of the Veterans Company, while the top floor served as a hospital. (J.R.A.H.S. vol. 48, part 3, p. 183)
Governor Macquarie reported to Earl Bathurst, on 28th February, 1820:
I have the Honour to report to Your Lordship that the following Public Buildings are now in progress, Namely... A Male Convict Barrack at do. (constructed in Macquarie Street, Windsor, in 1820, and now Hawkesbury Hospital) (H.R.A.. ser. 1, vol.. 10, p. 281)
Macquarie, on 27th July, 1822, presented to Earl Bathurst (following his return to England) a list of the public works he had constructed in the Colony. These included, at Windsor:
4. A Brick Built Barrack with suitable Out Offices for the residence and accomodation (sic) of 100 Male Convicts, enclosed with a high Brick Wall.
6. A House purchased from the Executors of the late Mr. Andrew Thompson, situated in a very eligible, elevated and Airy Situation on the left Bank of the Stream of Fresh Water, called the "South Creek", converted into and fitted up as a Colonial Hospital and sufficiently roomy to accomodate 50 Patients, with sufficient Grounds for an extensive Garden. (H.R.A. ser. 1, vol. 10, p. 690)
Macquarie had written to Earl Bathurst on 7th February, 1821, recommending the construction of a new hospital at Windsor, stating:
"A convenient Situation for this Building might be somewhat beyond the Town of Windsor on the Road to Richmond.
It might consist of Two Stories, the floor of the lower Storey having an Elevation of two feet above Ground, with the rooms or Wards 36 feet in length by 20 in breadth; Two Doors might communicate, and at the Ends of each room, with a Passage of 6 feet, separating the front Wards from a similar range behind, dividing by an Iron grating the Male and Female Wards, with Separate Doors to two of the Wards below, for Female Patients at the two ends of the Passage, and leaving the remaining two rooms on the lower Storey and the whole of those in the upper for the reception of Males.
A Staircase and Corridor leading to the Baths and Water Closets, and further to Kitchens, Wash-Houses and Dispensary, might retire from the Centre of the back front of the Building with a Division in the Middle for the purpose of completing the separation of the Male and female Patients." (HRA Ser. 1, Vol. 10, p. 383)
This building was never constructed. Instead, in 1823, after Macquarie's departure from the colony, the convict barrack at Windsor was converted into a convict hospital. The building still stands, forming the main walls of the old Hawkesbury Hospital.
Governor Darling on 27th May, 1828, informed the Right Hon. W. Huskisson of the state of the hospital on South Creek:
I am induced to ask the question more immediately with reference to Windsor, where the Surgeon's House is no longer habitable and the improper Site of the Hospital, which is also in a State of Decay, has been frequently represented to me; being desirous of receiving your commands whether other buildings should be erected in their Room and the Surgeon continued, there being no Government Establishment at Windsor which can render it necessary.
7. The discontuance of this Hospital ... would no doubt occasion inconveniance to the Settlers, but it appears to me the Colony is now sufficiently advanced, the period is arrived, when the Settlers should be taught to think for themselves and not look to the Government to be supplied with whatever they require. (H.R.A. ser. 1, vol. 14, pp. 203-4)
Transportation of convicts ceased in 1841, and the convict hospital was closed. The hospital building was turned over to the Hawkesbury Benevolent Society in 1846. The Society had been formed in 1818, and had operated an Asylum in Brabyn Street, Windsor from 1836. This established the precedent for the operation of Hawkesbury Hospital by a charitable organisation as is currently proposed.
During 1890 further additions and alterations occurred. These included a women's cottage, bathrooms, sheds and sanitary improvements, at a cost of over four hundred pounds.
Florence Risbey was appointed first Matron in 1895, holding the position until 1905.
An act of Parliament was passed on 19th October, 1903, changing the name to "Hawkesbury Benevolent Society and Hospital", and gave the power to sell and convey land. (Early Days of Windsor N.S. Wales. James Steele p. 163)
It was resolved in 1907 to construct a new hospital at a cost of 3,000 pounds. Five sites were considered; two in South Windsor, one at Brickfield, another next to the condensed milk factory in the Terrace, and another in Crowley's paddock. (Steele p. 166) None of these options were taken up, despite prolonged debate, and, in 1909, it was resolved to build the new hospital on the site of the old hospital. Designs were called for, the winning entry being that of Mr. George Matchem Pitt, utilising the walls of the old building, but enclosing the balconies and verandahs. The tender of Mr. W. Noller, of Parramatta, accepted for £4,500 (pounds). (Steele, p. 166; Hawkesbury Benevolent Society and Hospital 1818-1947. D.G. Bowd)
The building was opened by Lord Chelmsford on 6th April, 1911. The cost of the finished project was £5,899 (pounds). A new operating theatre was furnished out at a cost of 170 pounds, and named the "Phillip Charley Operating Theatre" after its benefactor.
In 1920 the building underwent repairs costing 755 pounds. These works included the instillation of a lift. The first floor was used for the accommodation of nurses until 1935. (Macquarie Country. D.G. Bowd. 1969. p. 101)
Nurses Quarters were erected in 1935, work commencing on 2nd March.(commemorative plaque) It was built on the site of the present demountable buildings in Macquarie Street, and were named Macquarie Cottage. At the same time, 10,686 pounds were spent converting the first floor of the hospital to "Intermediate" wards. (Bowd 1947)
The Public Hospitals Act of 1929 was amended in 1936 to bring the Hawkesbury Benevolent Society and Hospital under the supervision of the Hospitals Commission. The position of Trustee was abolished, and a Board of Directors consisting of five Government nominees and seven members elected triennially by the subscribers, took the place of the Committee of Management. (Bowd 1947)
Land was purchased from Mrs. S. Dean in 1941 to enable the construction of an improved Nurses Home (named "Risbey House" in 1963), on the eastern side of Macquarie Street. Work on the building commenced in November, 1945, and the building was opened in 1947. (Bowd 1947)
It was resolved in July, 1948, to seek a deputation from the District Hospital to the Hospitals Commission to push for a new hospital. (Windsor and Richmond Gazette. 4th August, 1948)
Eighteen acres of Dean's Paddock was resumed in 1955 for construction of a new hospital. Settlement occurred on 1st November of that year for the price of £16,866 (pounds).
Johnston Wing, with Children's Ward on the ground floor, was opened on 12th December, 1964. The following year, all wards were modernised, with the verandahs converted for ward accommodation.
Craignish Private Maternity Hospital, which had opened in 1937 (W.R.G. 1937), was acquired by the hospital in 1968.
Additional land in George Street, adjoining the hospital, was acquired for 100, 000 pounds from the Presbyterian Church in 1974. Scots' Church had been demolished in 1968. (Windsor and Richmond Gazette 23rd Oct. 1968) It was intended to utilise this land for future expansion. The Bateman Block was constructed on it and opened on 14th March, 1980 as Stage One of the new hospital (commemorative plaque; W.R.G. of that week). Macquarie Cottage was demolished to permit construction of Stages Two and Three of the hospital, but these were not proceeded with.
The name of the hospital was changed to Hawkesbury Hospital in 1984, and it was incorporated into the Castlereagh Area Health Service in 1986.(W.R.G. 25th June, 1986) This body was incorporated into the Wentworth Area Health Service in 1988.
by
Rex Stubbs
This site is maintained by Alan Aldrich