DOCSLIB.ORG

Hobart General Hospital

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Hobart General Hospital Hobart General Hospital Its Early History As early as possible after Lieuten· a \•ailable to him for erecting a perman· ant-Governor Collins began his settle· ent structure. It was not till the merit at Hobart Town, on the memor· 8th February, 1812, that a decision was able 21st :February, 1804, a marquee come to at Sydney to erect a hospital was doubtless pitched for the purposes building here. It is also highly nec­ of the General Hospital. Where or essary, writes Governor Macquarie on when the marquee was erected has not that date to ¥ajor Geils the command­ yet been ascertained from the published ant, that a General Hospital for the records. Possibly this important item rec::Jption of the --sick convicts and of information may be gleaned some other persons in the settlement who can· day. At the beginning of its history n :)t. otherwise prQcure medical atten· the General Hospital was staffed with tion should be erected at Hobart Town . a principal surgeon and two assistant a':l soon as the Government can eon· surgeons in the persons of William ve-niently command the means of doing !'Anson, Matthew Bowden, and Wil­ so. Until the latter part of the year liam Hopley. From the 27th July, 18C8 there was not, seemingly, a sett.Ier 1804, the assistant surgeon on duty at here with medical qualifications. In the hospital was required to attend all t:lC last quarter of that year the local punishments which might occur among co~ulemnation of the ship Dubuc, a the prisoners. Hopley, it may be stat­ South Sea whaler1 was the happy ed here, came hither with a wife and mc-flns of funrnishing the settlement two children. Bowden came from Port wi ~h its first private doctor in the per· l:"hillip in the storeship Ocean with son of Thomas William Birch, who ar· Lieutenant-Governor Collins and the ri\·ed here on the 2nd May, 1808. This first detachment numbering 259 persons gentleman waS an Englishman who had of all ranks and classes. Hopley, and t.:erved as medical officer on the Dubuc perhaps I'Alison too, remained at Port till her condt'mnation as an unsea­ Phillip unt_il the removal of the second worthy vessel After that event he detachment, under Lieutenant Sladden, d(.cidid to settle in Hobart Town, where which comprised about 74.persons and lw married a settler's daughter, fol1ow­ arrived _here in the ship Ocean on the C(l rommereial and pastoral pursuits, 25th ,Tune. Wheth·er the General Ho!!­ and built Macquarie House in 1814, be· pital was set up at Robart Town be­ sirles relieving suffering humanity, very fore or after the landing of the second often freely, at his popular surgery in detnchment is nllknown at the present M acquarie Street. A few sceptical time. Nor is it known so far whether per~ons are disinclined to recognise T. the marquee for the patients was pitch­ W. Birch as a qualified medical man; ed on Hunter Island or within ''the but that attitude of mind cannot be <~amp,'' possibly on a .site not far dis­ maintained in the face of im official tant from what was designated in print recognition of his professional status. ~ welve years later as Hospital Hill. On the 6th September, 1808, William Wherever the General Hospital was es­ Hopley, second assistant surgeon at the tablished by the Lieutenant-Governor, General Hospital, requested leave of ab­ there it remained during his command sence to enable him to proceed to of the settlement. Certainly in his England for the recovery of his health: time neither ma.terjal nol' JabDUl' was Thereupon thf' IAtmtenant-Gov~rnor oT- • dared a survey on the sick doctor by of the detae-hment, with kitchens and a board of three surgeons, namely, :t small military hospital, after you William 1 'Anson and Matthew Bowden finish the additions and repairs now from the General Hospital, and Thomas making to tho chureh and Government Birch, surgeon on the ship Dubuc. House- for yntu· aecommodation. These These professional ~entlemen, his Hon· Barr'acks and also a Civil General Hos­ our required and d1rected to visit Sur· pital and new gaol must first be ere<'.t· geon Hopley, enquire into the state of ed and completely finished before any his health, and report to him under npw Gov<>rnmf'tlt House is_attemptrd to their hands whether they thought it h(' built. necessary tbat he should be invalided According to a summar~· of the rle· nnd sent to England. The report of ~patches frm•t Lieutenant.·Governo! these recognised surgeons may be seen Da,:e~· to lteatlquarters, he wrote on in the first volume of the Historical the 3rd May, 1815 a despatch, in which Records of Tasmania. In those br he :i.nnoun<'ed to his Excellency his in­ off times the title of ''doctor'' was not tention of building a new General Ho!!­ nften used at Robart Town or Sydney pital on an eligible situation, but not in official documents. The gene~al tlJC· ont' fixed on by the Governor. practice was to describe Matthew Bow­ Oul_v n snnunary of the despatch was den, for example, as Mr. Bowden, . and avaibblc to Dr. Watson, but in the first. sometimes as Surgeon Bowden. volume of the Historical Records of During his visit to the Derwent in Tasmania he pi'i<lts the Governor rs November, 1811, Governor Macquari(' command on this mbjert to Lieuten­ selected sites- for the erection of a an.t-GovNnor Dav1·y. I understa1ld }Jermanent hospital and gaol. The from thf' Deputy Surveyor of Lands. site for the hospital is mentioned by writes his Ex~~dlt'nf•.y on the 12th De­ him to Major Geils in a despatch writ1 er:mlll'r, l8l!i, thpt you have changccl ten on the 8th February, 1812. The the sitP orit,-rina-lly marked out and in­ phlce I pointed out to the Inspector t.enflNl h;v me for P.recting a new hos­ of Works most eligible for those two pital on. I must therefore desire that public buildings,, says his Excellency, the. hospital: shall not be erected on is a rising airy piece of· ground on the anv other site than the one directed anrl west side of the rivulet near the pres· apProved of' by nH'. I do not allow ent lumber yard, and it is there they Surgeon Luttrell t.o interfere in cases Ir.ust· be erected whenever it mav be of this kind, and I shall expect an in· convenient to eolllmenee building there­ stant compliance with my orders on this on. I shall send you plans and ele­ point. How the Lieutenant-Governor vations of both these -public buildings replierl to this censure is not known, at- some future period, and long before for after the conclusion of his admin­ yon can commence bu'lding them. AR istration, h~ sent most of his official soon as sufficient matmials are colleeted pnpers to his friend and patron, the for the barracks for the officers and carl of Harrowhy. The task of raising soldiers, you must next prepare the a permanent home _for t.he_Genernl Hos­ necessary materials for the General pital was inherited by Lieutenant­ Hospital and the gaoJ...,...brick for the GovernoT Sorell. I leave it now to former and stone for the latter-each your own discretiOn, writes the Gover­ to be only one story high. The exact nor to him on the 3rd June, 1818, to position of the site is marked on the employ whatever number of convict plan of Hobart Town approved by his labou~ers on the Government Public Excelleney here on tho 30th November, Works at the Derwent that may b{' 1811. A copy of the plan is given at deemed actually necessaTy to complete page 64 of the Walker Memorial-Vol· those now in progress, including a new ume, which should find a place in the Geperal Hospital, and completing the home of every son of. the soil. On the Militarv Barracks. It was not till the 1st June, 1812, his Excellency recurs to 18th necembEir2 1818, that his Honour the subject. I hope, he remarks to . Vias in a position to inform his E,;cel­ Major Geils, you will not lose any time lecv that "the foundation of the Col in setting about building the barracks (:m{al Hospital is begun on the plan and on Ba.na.ek Hill for the accOmmodation on the' spot approved by Ymn Excel· leney.'' Th}.s foundation, remarkl!l Dr. tion., Dinner at 3 o'clock; tickets, 25/1 Watson in a note, was laid on the site which entitlc8 the purchaser to bring of the present General Hospital in Liv­ with him a female partner; paylllent erpool Street, Hobart. to be madC' at the time of receiving In the period from 1818 to at least the card in wheat or moneY. The the 31st March, 1821, the work of the situation cif the house is indicated by' General Hospital was carried on, in thP writer of an historical article rented houses. Probably it was so ac­ wliiCh may be read in the "Mercury" commodated :for some years prior to of the Btl~ JIHH", 18!58. Her Majesty's 1818, but the records of the Police General Hospital is the caption of the Fund for those years are not ,avail­ artiele, ancl, aR the authority of t.h6 ableJ and so the point must remain un­ writer was not impugned at the time, solved, at any rate for the present.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Convict Records in the Hobart Branch Library, Marjorie Jacklyn
    TASMANIAN FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY INC. formerly Genealogical Society of Tasmania PO Box 191 Launceston Tasmania 7250 State Secretary: [email protected] Home Page: http://www.tasfhs.org Patron: Dr Alison Alexander Fellows: Mr Neil Chick, Mr David Harris and Mrs Denise McNeice Executive: President Mr Peter Cocker (03) 6435 4103 Vice President Mr Ray Hyland (03) 6431 7404 Vice President Mrs Denise McNeice FTFHS (03) 6228 3564 Executive Secretary Miss Muriel Bissett (03) 6344 4034 Executive Treasurer Miss Betty Bissett (03) 6344 4034 Committee: Mrs Judy Cocker Mr John Dare Mrs Rosemary Davidson Mrs Betty Fletcher Mr John Gillham Mr David Harris Mr Alan Leighton Mrs Jill Poke Miss Beverly Richardson Mrs Anita Swan By-laws Officer Mrs Denise McNeice FTFHS (03) 6228 3564 Exchange Journal Coordinator Mrs Thelma McKay (03) 6229 3149 Home Page (State) Webmaster Mr Peter Cocker (03) 6435 4103 Journal Editor Mrs Rosemary Davidson (03) 6278 2464 Journal Despatcher Mr Leo Prior (03) 6228 5057 LWFHA Chairman Miss Jenny Gill (03) 6326 1622 Members’ Interests Compiler Mr John Gillham (03) 6239 6529 Membership Registrar Mr John Dare (03) 6424 7889 Projects & Publications Coord. Mrs Anne Bartlett (03) 6344 5258 Public Officer Mrs Denise McNeice FTFHS (03) 6228 3564 Research Coordinator Mrs Kaye Stewart (03) 6362 2073 State Sales Officer Mrs Pat Harris (03) 6344 3951 Branches of the Society Burnie: PO Box 748 Burnie Tasmania 7320 [email protected] Devonport: PO Box 587 Devonport Tasmania 7310 [email protected] Hobart: GPO Box 640 Hobart Tasmania 7001 [email protected] Huon: PO Box 117 Huonville Tasmania 7109 [email protected] Launceston: PO Box 1290 Launceston Tasmania 7250 [email protected] Volume 22 Number 2 September 2001 ISSN 0159 0677 Contents Editorial .
    [Show full text]
  • Chapter Lix. the Nativity and Non-Age of Melbourne
    CHAPTER LIX. THE NATIVITY AND NON-AGE OF MELBOURNE JOURNALISM (CONTLNUED.) SYNOPSIS:—George Arden.—William Kerr. —Thomas Hamilton Osborne.—Editorial Thrashings.—Byrne punches Greeves' Head.-Kelly cudgels Kerr.—Kerr's Arrest for carrying Arms.—Robinson assaults Cavenagh.— McNamara assaults Kerr.—Kentish assails Cavenagh—Davis knocks down Cavenagh.—" The Recording Angels:" Mr. Joseph Byrne.—Mr. William Corp.—Mr. G. D. Boursiquot.—Mr. John Davies.—Mr. G n F n.— Mr. Edmund Finn.—Mr. John Curtis.—Fawkner and Finn.—Reporting Reminiscences. —The First Civic Dinner.—Curtis and the "Scotch Fiddle."— Curtis and the Missionary Doctor.—Finn and the Amateur Politician. THE OLD EDITORS. Jpl| EORGE ARDEN, the Co-Proprietor and Editor of the Gazette, was an accomplished and florid writer, not only as a journalist, but as a pamphleteer. The literary power of which he was capable was unballasted by experience, and, there was no mental brake to keep him within bounds. He had for a time the sole newspaper at his command; but he was absorbed by an inordinate self-sufficiency, and lacked perseverance. When newspapers were small, and their success mainly depended on the active personal supervision of the editor, Arden, who understood little of, and cared less for, journalistic minutice, was satisfied when he supplied an elaborate "leader." He was also much given to libelling, and falling into trouble thereby. In 1839, he was convicted and fined; in 1841, he was committed for trial, but the prosecution was abandoned; in 1843, he was again convicted of libel in connection with the first Corporation selections, and his brilliant and splenetic tirades against the first Resident Judge (Willis), though powerful agents in the ultimate un-benching of the official, proved the ruin of the writer.
    [Show full text]
  • The Expedition Under Lieutenant Governor Collins in 1803-4 By
    (No. 108A.) 18 89. PARLIAMENT OF TASMANIA . THE EXPEDITION UNDER LIEUTENANT­ . GOVERNOR COLLINS IN 1803-4. BY JAMES BACKHOUSE WALKER. Presented to ,both Houses of Parliament by His Excellency's Command. THE EXPEDITION UNDER LIEUTEN.ANT-GOVERNOR COLLINS IN 1803-4. ,. BY JAMES BACKHOUSE WALKER. l. THE ORIGIN OF THE EXPEDITION, AND and the story of those months is an essential part of the THE VOYAGE TO PORT PHILLIP. history of the first settlers of Hobart. The idea of the settlement emanated from Captam IN former papers which I Irnve had the honor to read Philip Gidley King, the then Governor of New South before the Royal Society, I have endeavoured to trace Wales, and was, doubtless, suggested to him ~y the the influence of French rivalry in hastening the English arrival at Port Jackson of the French ship the settlement of Australia. I have shown that to the Naturaliste from Bass' Straits, and the suspicions thus pioneer work of French navigators we owe the fi:st excitep. in his mind with respect to French designs on admirable surveys of the southern coasts of ~asmama, His Majesty's territories in New Holland. and that it was wholly due to the apprehensions that On the 21st May, 180~-shortly after the ~r~val of those surveys excited that Governor King sent Lieut. the Natumliste, but .before Commodore Baudm s own Bowen from Port Jackson to take possession of the ship had reached Port Jackson-the Governor addressed Derwent. · a despatch to the Duke of Portland pressing upon hi_m ., I have also briefly touched on the explorations of our the importal!ce of founding a colony at ~he :1-ewly dis­ own Eno-lish sailors in the neio·hbourhood of the Derwent covered harbour of Port Phillip, of the so~!, chmat~, and and in Bass' Strait, and the influence of their reports in advanta<reous0 position of which he had JUSt received a deciding the choice oflocalities for new colonies, while I very favourable i·eport from Captain Flinders, who had have followed the misfortunes of the unlucky settlement explored it in the preceding month.
    [Show full text]
  • Expedition Under Lieutenant Governor Collins in 1803-4
    205 THE EXPEDITION UNDER LIEUTENANT- GOVERNOR COLLINS IN 1803-4. BY JAMES BACKHOUSE WALKER. Eead 14th October, 1889. 1. The Origin of the Expedition and the Voyage to Port Phillip. In former papers which I have had the honor to read before the Royal Society, I have endeavoured to trace the influence of French rivah-y in hastening the English settlement of Australia. I have shown that to the pioneer work of French navigators we owe the first admirable surveys of the southern coasts of Tasmania, and that it was wholly due to the apprehensions that those surveys excited that Governor King sent Lieut. Bowen from Port Jackson to take possession of the Derwent. I have also briefly touched on the explorations of our own English sailors in the neighbourhood of the Derwent and in Bass' Strait, and the influence of their reports in deciding the choice of localities for new colonies, while I have followed the misfortunes of the unlucky settlement at Risdon, and described its collapse after a short and troubled life of little more than half a year. The real history of Tasmania as an English colony begins with the departure from England, in the spring of 1803, of the expedition of Lieutenant-Governor Collins,* the founder of Hobart; and it is with the origin and misadventures of that expedition on its way to the Derwent that I have to deal in the present paper. The project of the English Government to found a colony on the shores of Bass' Strait, and the unsuccess- ful attempt of Governor Collins to plant that settlement *The first lieutenant of the Calcutta published a narrative of the voyage of the expedition to Port Phillip, and of its failure there.
    [Show full text]
  • Auction Catalogue For148
    Jul 27, 2009 Prestige Philately - Auction No 148 Page: 1 Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD Settlement 1788-1825 - Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) Van Diemen's Land was part of New South Wales until 14/7/1825 when it was proclaimed a separate Colony. Settlement of the island had two purposes: 1) to prevent possible settlement by the French; & 2) to create a third convict settlement (Norfolk Island being the second). A small settlelment at Risdon Cove was established in 1803 under Lt John Bowen. Hobart Town was founded by David Collins in February 1804. George Town, in the north of the island, was settled in November the same year. However, Launceston was developed as the principal centre in the north. Lot 1006 1006 C C 1805 (Oct 17) entire headed "Hobart Town River Derwent/Van Diemens Land Octr 17th" & signed "Mattw Bowden", to London, rated "11" for 4d inwards shipletter plus 7d for a single letter conveyed between 50 & 80 miles, largely fine strike of the scarce double-oval 'SHIP Letter/[crown]/DEAL' handstamp on the face & London arrival backstamp of 'MAY11/1807' in red, ironed-out vertical fold. Ex Rigo de Righi (1982); acquired for $6875 at Rodney Perry's auction of 1/2/1989. An item of exceptional postal history importance, being the earliest recorded letter from Tasmania in private hands. [With a related article from "The Australian Philatelist" (Summer 1989)] The writer states: "...We have been for several months eagerly expecting supplies, and have been on a very reduced ration. About a fortnight ago we procured a scanty supply from a whaler...At that time we had not above three weeks provisions in the store...we have been treated with great inattention and neglect by Gov King.
    [Show full text]
  • Library Catalogue Master Mar 2017.Xlsx
    NEPEAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY Library Catalogue CALL NUMBER AUTHOR TITLE SUBJECT Indexing for historical societies. Melbourne, royal 025.069 ADA ADAMS, John D. INDEXING Historical Society of Victoria, 2001. Cat. No. 5190 929.20994 AGE AGEE, Jeanette Twist in every tale. 2013. Cat. No. 5970 GENEALOGY Nepean Limestone: The history of the limestone industry 338.4 ALE ALEXANDER, John on the Southern Mornington Peninsula. NHS 1994. 2nd LIMESTONE ed., 2001. Cat No. 3987 (ii). Nepean Limestone: The history of the limestone industry 338.4 ALE ALEXANDER, John on the Southern Mornington Peninsula. NHS 1994. 1st LIMESTONE ed., 1994. Cat No. 3987 (i). Notes for tour guides: Sorrento Cemetery. Revised ed. R 919.4521 ALE ALEXANDER, John Sorrento, Vic., Nepean Historical Society, 1992. Cat. No. SORRENTO CEMETERY 5164 Notes for tour guides: Sorrento heritage walk. Sorrento, R 919.4521 ALE ALEXANDER, John SORRENTO Vic, Nepean Historical Society, 1993. Cat. No. 5165 Wrecks On The Reef: A Guide to the Historic Shipwrecks R 910.45 AND ANDERSON, Ross at Port Phillip Heads. Heritage Council Victoria, 1997. SHIPWRECKS Cat. No. 3723. First Settlement at Port Phillip (Sullivan Bay), The. List R 365.994 ANG ANGELL, Barbara One: The Convicts. List Two: The Free Settlers. B. COLLINS SETTLEMENT SITE Angell, 1979. Settlement: a novel of Australia, The. 1988. Cat. No. R 823.4 ANG ANGELL, Barbara FICTION 3818. Voyage to Port Phillip 1803. Sorrento, Vic: Nepean 994.5202 ANG ANGELL, Barbara COLLINS SETTLEMENT SITE Historical Society, 1984. Cat No. 4519. Evolution of Cooperation Between School and 372.9 ANT ANTHONY, Denise M. Community –An historical perspective of Sorrento SORRENTO PRIMARY SCHOOL Primary School.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 Number 1 June 2000 ISSN 0159 0677
    Volume 21 Number 1 June 2000 ISSN 0159 0677 Contents Office Bearers . 2 Editorial . 3 Annual General Meeting Agenda . 4 President’s Message . 5 New Releases . 5 Past and Present State and Hobart Office Bearers . 6 Celebrating 21 Years . 7 Branch News . 9 In the Beginning … Hobart, Jim Wall and Theo Sharples . 12 Our Ancestors’ Hobart Town, Leonie C. Mickleborough . 13 Sir Philip Oakley Fysh, Kate Ramsay . 18 A Young Englishman’s Observations of the Aboriginals During Five Years in Van Diemen’s Land, Dr Ian Gregg . 19 Who Was Dr John Barnes? Michael Ritchie . 25 The Original Cover Design, Maurice Appleyard . 33 Tasmania’s Population Growth, Maree Ring . 34 News from the Archives Office of Tasmania, Robyn Eastley . 36 A Clark by any other Name …? Wynnette Ford . 37 Queries, New Members’ Interests and New Members . Insert Lucky Diggers, Vee Maddock . 39 Some Early Commissariat Officers in Van Diemen’s Land, Derek Hindle . 42 The Unhappy Voyage of the Whaling Ship, the Offley, Colleen Read . 47 Miscellaneous Tasmanian Entries Located in Victorian Police Correspondence Files, Helen D. Harris . 52 New Releases . 53 My First Year of Genealogy, Robert Tanner . 54 Genes on Screen, Vee Maddock . 59 Tasmaniana Library, State Library of Tasmania, New Acquisitions . 61 Coming Events . 63 Lost, Stolen or Strayed ... and Found! . 64 From the Exchange Journals, Thelma McKay . 66 Library Notes . 69 Society and Branch Sales . 71 Branch Library Addresses, Times and Meeting Details . 75 Membership of the Genealogical Society of Tasmania Inc . 76 Deadline dates for contributions: 1 January, 1 April, 1 July and 1 October Journal Committee Editorial Rosemary Davidson, Cynthia O’Neill, Maurice Appleyard, Jeannine Connors, David Hodgson, Charles Hunt, It is more than two years since Joyce Lucy Knott, Vee Maddock, Denise McNeice Purtscher first showed me letters Hobart Leo Prior and Kate Ramsay.
    [Show full text]