Archives In Brief 57 - Hospital buildings
Provides a brief overview of the major sources held by State Records that relate to hospital buildings. Other records may be identified in Archives Investigator See also the Guide to the records of the Government (Colonial) Architect 1837-c.1970 (Government Architect's Guide) and the Departmental Special Bundle listings, available in both reading rooms.
Introduction | Select list of sources
Introduction
Medical staff arrived with the First Fleet in 1788 and a temporary hospital was constructed at Sydney Cove. The arrival of the Second Fleet showed the inadequacy of the first building, with many convicts being housed in tents in the hospital grounds. Sydney Hospital was opened in 1816.
Hospitals were also built at Windsor, Bathurst, Liverpool and Goulburn in the early 1800s.
Select list of sources
Health | Government Architect | Government Printing Office | Colonial Secretary
Health
NRS 4829, General matters 'C' files, 1930-86
Includes extensions to hospital buildings.
NRS 4885, Miscellaneous papers, c.1941-43
Includes miscellaneous sketches and plans.
NRS 4909, Copies of plans of Prince Henry Hospital, 1892-1920
NRS 4918, Files relating to the erection of David Berry Hospital, 13 Jan 1908-4 May 1937
NRS 4931, General files (North Metropolitan Regional Office), c.1940-1983
Includes files re building and maintenance work.
NRS 4932, Files relating to private hospitals (North Metropolitan Regional Office), c.1960-76
Contains material re building alterations.
NRS 5050, Gladesville Mental Hospital, Book of Photographs, c.1966
NRS 5079, North Ryde Psychiatric Centre Plans, 1955-64
NRS 5137, Inspector's Book, 1879-96
Includes comments on the condition of hospital buildings.
NRS 5147, Parramatta Psychiatric Centre, Plans of the Centre, 1876-1974
An index to those plans bearing an index number is located at [8/3047].
Government Architect
NRS 4345, Sketches and plans of hospitals and technical colleges, 1936-38
NRS 4346, Photographs of public buildings in New South Wales, c.1880-1940
Reel 2786
These photographs are listed in full in the Guide to the records of the Government (Colonial) Architect 1837-c.1970 which is available in both reading rooms.
NRS 4351, Building 'B' files, 1936-90
Until the establishment of a hospital building 'H' register in 1950, the 'B' system was used for registering files relating to hospital and health buildings.
NRS 4354, Files re health buildings ('H' files), 1935-91
Full listings of these files are available.
Government Printing Office
NRS 4481, Glass and film negatives, c.1870-1988
Reels 2546, 2547, 2643
This series includes images of Sydney Hospital, Macquarie St. Alterations; Gladesville Hospital; Royal Prince Alfred Hospital; Rydalmere Hospital.
Colonial Secretary
NRS 906, Special bundles
* Extensions to Prince Alfred Hospital and financial subsidies, 1899-1913 [5/5260]
* South Sydney Hospital, proposed extensions, 1909-15 [5/7108.5]
* Proposed extension to Sydney Hospital, 1909-16 [5/5301]
NRS 1328, Minute book of the Hospital's Advisory Board, 20 Jun 1918-21 Jun 1929
Includes hospital sites and plans.
For further information
See the listings in the reading rooms for Treasury; NRS 14194, Special bundles, 1846-1984 and Attorney General's Department; NRS 333, Special bundles, 1874-1984. Consult Archives Investigator, under the following agencies:
- Hospitals Commission of NSW
- Board of Health
- Inspector General of Mental Hospitals.
Researchers should consult the Register of Access Directions to confirm the public availability of records. State Records' staff can advise you on the availability of records if they are not listed on the register.
© State of New South Wales through the State Records Authority, 2003. This work may be freely reproduced and distributed for most purposes, however some restrictions apply. See our copyright notice or contact us.
