General News
21 August, 2024
Horsham's Wimmera Base Hospital to celebrate 150 years of operation
The community is invited to the Baillie Street location on August 26.
History
Horsham
On Monday, August 26, community members will gather at Horsham's Wimmera Base Hospital to celebrate its 150th anniversary.
Grampians Health Librarian Michelle Pitman says that community have always been the lifeblood of the hospital.
"It has been very much about a community's hospital. Being a public hospital from its foundation, it has been very much about the people making this hospital what they need," Ms Pitman said.
"The fundraising that goes on even to this day is just nothing short of phenomenal, what people do to make sure this place exists for their need."
Before the "birth date" of the hospital on August 27, 1874, travelling doctors would go around the district on horseback.
"On September 10, 1873, at the Carriers Arms Hotel, the leadership of the town got together, and they decided that we need our own hospital," Ms Pitman said.
In its earlier stages, the hospital had about 12 beds, which proved to be too small by the time it was built due to the growing population of Horsham.
The main entrance of the original hospital was close to the site of the current Wimmera Nursing Home.
Dr Frederick Lawton was assigned as the first doctor, and a meeting on August 27, 1874, elected a hospital committee and appointed trustees.
The hospital has had several other significant figures across its 150 years.
Isabella Bolton was the first matron of the hospital, while Esther Hayden and Gilbert Mary Arthur have also held the title.
"She had an absolutely incredible reputation for making sure that none of the trainee nurses that studied under her failed their exams," Ms Pitman said of Arthur.
"She had this state-wide reputation for being an incredibly good teacher of young nurses."
Dr Robert Ritchie is another significant contributor in the early years.
He started working at the hospital in 1983.
Dr Ritchie completed Australia's first spinal anaesthetic on January 7, 1902.
"He was so beloved in the town," she said.
Over its 150 years, the hospital has undergone several changes.
On December 12, 1927, the hospital's name was changed to Horsham Base Hospital.
In July 1942, the first section of a new multi-storey hospital fronting in Baillie Street was opened.
The name was returned to the Wimmera Base Hospital on August 15, 1949.
After the merger between the Wimmera Base Hospital and Dimboola District Hospital to form the Wimmera Health Care Group, a new $12.5-million hospital was officially opened in April 1996.
Most recently, on November 1, 2021, Wimmera Health Care Group merged with Stawell Regional Health, Edenhope and District Memorial Hospital and Ballarat Health Services to form Grampians Health.
The organisation remains Victoria's largest regional health service and Australia's largest public aged care provider.