Reflecting on the history of the Armidale Creeklands during a global pandemic ...

View of Dumaresq Creek south of Donnelly St - adjacent to the site of Armidale’s first (infectious diseases) hospital

As our association develops its Visions for the Armidale Creeklands, we have uncovered some fascinating history of our creeklands as they have evolved over generations. Along the creeklands, we know of past industrial uses such as a tannery, a soap factory, a flour mill and of course the gas works. But did you know there was an infectious diseases hospital?

Our Vice President, Graham Wilson OAM, has done some investigation of Armidale’s first hospital, built in 1858 (forty years before Dumaresq Dam was built) on the north bank of Dumaresq Creek, bounded by O’Dell and Donnelly Streets. The hospital was run by a committee of three clergymen and local business-people.

Just 14 years later, there was a move for a new hospital to be developed and, in 1872, a new site was suggested. Despite public opposition from those living in the area, allotment No. 46 was dedicated for a new hospital on the Great Northern Road. This is the site of the present hospital.

This new hospital, comprising three single storey blocks, was opened between 1881 to 1883 under Matron Webb. She was the daughter of the Armidale Fire Captain J.T.A. Webb and a member of the Ladies Fire Brigade - affectionately known as the ‘Amazon Girls’ by the local media.

The former hospital, near Dumaresq Creek, then became the Infectious Diseases Hospital where the staff and patients could be isolated from the new Armidale and New England Hospital. The reported diseases of the time included bacterial infections such as typhoid fever, diphtheria, scarlet fever and consumption (tuberculosis) as well as the viral diseases of smallpox and polio.

In October 1900, medical staff recommended that the Infectious Diseases Hospital building be moved to the new hospital although some opposed the proposal. At the same time, the Armidale City Council took action to prevent the Infectious Diseases Hospital being moved and called a public meeting. Despite this opposition, the Government built a new Infectious Diseases Hospital which was completed in February 1911.

This new Infectious Diseases Hospital was isolated from the larger hospital, having two large public wards and two private wards with verandahs on both the back and front of the building. The nurses’ bedrooms were located in one section and the building was lit by gas with hot and cold water laid on. To meet the requirements of the Board of Health, it was located 105 feet to the west side of the main hospital and 75 feet from the Great North Road. Mr R.N. Hickson was the architect and Leckie and Sons were the contractors. In 2017, this building was demolished to make way for the most recent extension of the hospital.

Once the new Infectious Hospital ward was opened, the question arose: what was to happen to the former Infectious Hospital at the corner of O’Dell and Donnelly Streets? In September 1915, tenders were advertised for the removal of the weatherboard buildings. It is unclear what happened to the timber as there was a general public belief that the structures carried disease. At one hospital meeting, it was reported that the timber was burnt but, at a Council meeting held in May 1916, the building inspector reported that permission to erect a chaff shed in Brown Street was recommended; the timber being from the Old Infectious Diseases Hospital.

We hope that stories like this - of our shared history of combating infectious diseases - might be brought to life as we seek to develop community Visions - including seeing more placemaking installations about our history along the Armidale Creeklands. Might a little of this history be captured on a plaque installed with a view over a future wetland - to commemorate the site of Armidale’s first hospital?