Mount Pleasant Hospital

Mount Pleasant has been serviced with a hospital since 1911, with a cottage hospital established by Nurse Nugent, who arrived from Western Australia and set up premises in a house situated where today’s Talunga Village is situated, on the corner of Joseph Street and Melrose Street. A house of six rooms was converted into a ‘spotlessly clean and comfortable establishment’. Four wards were created, together with a sitting room, and wide shady verandahs, and a pretty garden for inmates to observe. Dr Proctor, who had an extensive practice in the region was keenly interested and provided the first patient, a man who had a serious accident at Sedan.

By February 1916 these premises had become too small, and so Sister Crawford re-established a hospital at Totness House, situated behind the current Soldiers’ Memorial Hall. The elderly Giles sisters had by then retired to another residence in the town, leaving these premises available.

The new quarters are beautifully situated, being surrounded by handsome trees, and just far enough away from the main thoroughfare to be quiet, and convient to the doctor’s residence. The hospital has proved a boon to Mount Pleasant and neighborhood; a surprisingly large number of cases being treated there in the course of a year.

With government regulations forcing the South Rhine and Tungkillo District Councils to support the establishment of Angaston and Mannum District Hospitals respectively, the community began a discussion regarding the establishment of a local hospital at Mount Pleasant and in 1922 word was spreading. A committee was formed for the collection of funds and community fundraising began, with street stalls, concerts and race meetings held throughout the district and funds set aside for the building of a modern, up-to-date facility. Philanthropic families offered pound for pound incentives for projects and Robert Melrose promised a five acre hospital site from property he had purchased from H. A. Giles’ property which Melrose had purchased in 1921. Plans were being prepared and these were presented to a meeting held in March 1923, and after inspection it was decided to erect a new building and proceed with the work by calling tenders as soon as possible.

On 7 April 1923 the hospital committee defined the building site on land adjacent to the school and in May 1923 the tender from Mr Dallwitz of Angaston was accepted for the amount of £2,740.

At the laying of the foundation stone on 24 November 1923 it was explained that it had been requested that a Government subsidised hospital be built but this request was not granted, and the community came to the fore and the dream had come to fruition.

Hon. R. T. Melrose MLC laid the foundation stone for the hospital with a suitably inscribed trowl. Those who attended then placed donations and cheques on the foundation stone, which was of Angaston marble and read “Mount Pleasant District Hospital. Foundation stone laid by Hon. R. T. Melrose, M.L.C., November 24, 1923.”

Mrs John Murray officially opened the Hospital on 27 June 1924. The institution is governed by a board of management, which being unable to obtain a Government subsidy had continued to work unaided, relying on donations and other means for funds; these totalled £2,581.

The building, which is just completed, is up to date in every respect, and is a credit to all concerned. It is ideally situated on a beautifully elevated site overlooking the town. The design is simple and dignified, the foundations are of stone, the walls of brick, coated with grey stucco, and the roof of iron, painted white. There is ample verandah space both in the front and back, and accommodation is provided for 12 patients, the rooms varying in capacity from one to four cases. An up-to-date operating room, staff rooms, and dining rooms are included in addition to the kitchen, replete with every convenience. A septic tank system of drainage, and electric light are also installed. Mr. N. Dalwitz is the architect and contractor. The furnishing of one of the single rooms was as a memorial gift of the nieces of the late Mrs. Annie Royal (Mesdames Bryant, Morris, and Taylor, of Melbourne); while another – the Millyard Ward, was a gift from Mrs. J. Millyard.

Prior to the opening ceremony the Chairman of the board (Mr. Lillecrapp) said the residents of the. district would presently have an opportunity of inspecting the result of the work on which the

board had been engaged, and that inspection would indicate that their money had been wisely expended. They were pleased to have visitors with them from the hospital boards of Gumeracha and Angaston, to whom they extended a cordial welcome. He paid a tribute to the commendable work done by the treasurer and the secretary, and presented a financial statement which showed, in addition to the figures already quoted, that the sum of £2,740 had been paid to the contractor, and the gross expenditure was £4,314. They therefore had a big overdraft still to pay, for which he appealed to their generosity in order that the full benefit of the scheme, might be given for the district. (Applause.)

In declaring the hospital open, Mrs. Murray thanked them for the honour in asking her to perform the ceremony. The institution would, sbe felt sure, be a great benefit to the district. She wished the matron and nurses every success in their new work. (Applause.)

A silver key was presented to Mrs. Murray by Master David Godfrey, and musical selections were rendered by the School drum and fife band.

References

Mount Barker Courier and Onkaparinga and Gumeracha Advertiser (SA : 1880 - 1954), Friday 4 February 1916

The Mount Barker Courier and Onkaparinga and Gumeracha Advertiser (SA : 1880 - 1954)Friday 30 November 1923 - Page 5

 The Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 - 1929)Saturday 28 June 1924 - Page 14