Class: Historic
Legal Status: Registered

Database Number: 017963
File Number: 1/12/030/0043

Statement of Significance:

The Coast Hospital (Little Bay) Conservation Area has social, historical, architectural, scientific and aesthetic significance due to the continued use of the site since 1883 for the treatment of infectious diseases, the erection of buildings associated with this use and the resulting survival of the original coastal landscape and some of its associated flora.

Particular factors contributing to this significance include the following: the site has been in almost continual use for over a century as an infectious disease hospital; the location of the hospital distanced from Sydney and its internal arrangement, was indicative of the community fear then held for epidemic diseases such as dysentery, typhus, typhoid, cholera, smallpox, malaria and plague; the
history of the hospital is linked with the history of infectious disease in Australia and the achievements in medical science in overcoming and treating these diseases; the hospital was proclaimed in 1960 as the first teaching hospital of the University of New South Wales; all the buildings in the hospital complex have some degree of significance in their relationship to the developing medical and social history of the site and the complex retains many buildings of particular architectural, historical, social and medical significance; the conservation area includes important archaeological remains of earlier hospital buildings indicative of the attitudes to health care in the nineteenth century; the conservation area includes an important section of metropolitan coastline with high visual values; the conservation area includes important areas of remnant bushland of high scientific value; the conservation area includes valuable areas of open space; the hospital cemetery is an important historic site, with a strong visual and historical relationship with the hospital itself.

Description :

Regarding the Aboriginal use of this place, there is a report that Little Bay was a fairly important Aboriginal camping ground between Sydney and Botany Bay, and six Aboriginal pathways reportedly led to it. There are a number of Aboriginal sites located within the conservation area. They include an axe grinding groove site, a discontinuous band of shell midden following the beach on the southern side of Little Bay, a sandstone shelter with shell midden and a number of engraving sites.

Historically, the area was also important to Aboriginal people. Pacific islanders and Aboriginal people suffering from leprosy were treated at the Leprosy Lazaret at the coast hospital. Two cemeteries were associated with the coast hospital. A number of Pacific Islanders were buried in one of these and there is a strong oral tradition in the La Perouse Aboriginal community that Aboriginal people are buried here as well. The area thus has strong social significance to the La Perouse community. The Little Bay area is also important to this community because Aboriginal people continue to use this locality as a place to obtain food and this assists in maintaining traditional knowledge about such practices.

First use for Medical care - 1879

The first use of the Little Bay area for medical care was in 1879, when three Chinese lepers were isolated in huts near the Bay. Following an outbreak of smallpox in the winter of 1881, the Colonial Government decided to establish an infectious disease hospital to replace the inadequate facilities at the only other isolation site, North Head Quarantine Station and 500 acres were reserved at Little Bay. Whilst the colonial architect was instructed to erect a suitable pavilion hospital on the land, the first hospital facilities were contained in bell tents near the beach and admissions to the tents started on 5 September 1881. When the construction of the Coast Hospital was completed, it consisted of six pavilion wards and two private pavilion wards joined by a covered verandah, two specially isolated pavilion wards, together with quarters for medical and nursing staff and various other buildings.

The buildings were constructed in wood and corrugated iron, being finally demolished following World War Two. The water supply for the hospital proper was obtained from the stream entering the southern side of Little Bay, across which a dam was constructed. In addition to the hospital accommodation, a separate sanatorium, consisting of five pavilions, was constructed in a section known as the Healthy Ground, located directly above Little Bay to the north-east of the hospital proper and fenced off from it.

By 1886, the sanatorium was used for infectious cases, a role it fulfilled until its demolition in 1937. Part of the Healthy Ground is now occupied by the Marks Pavilion. In 1890 a new Lazaret was erected on the north side of Little Bay to house leprosy patients, the buildings in this complex being finally demolished in 1966. Early in the twentieth century it was recommended that a gradual rebuilding of the general section of the hospital should be made.

By 1913 the Minister for Health, Fred Flowers, had prepared an extensive rebuilding scheme which included the construction of twenty wards. The foundation stone was laid on 7 November 1914 and by the end of the War (1918) six pavilions had been completed. The project was never completed.

In 1934 the name of the Coast Hospital was changed, not without opposition, to the Prince Henry Hospital, to commemorate the visit then of Henry, Duke of Gloucester. An extensivebuilding program was embarked on during the 1930s. The significant buildings and sites include the following:

1) the Flowers Hospital;
2)store, formerly lecture hall;
3) manager’s (pine) cottage;
4) six residential cottages;
5) two military wards;
6) the 1930snurses home;
7) sewing room, the former superintendent’s cottage;
8) institute of tropical medicine;
9) nurses memorial chapel;
10) golf club house, the former laundry;
11) memorial clocktower and clock;
12) phoenix palms, coral trees and Norfolk Island pines;
13) dam and pond;
14) site of stables and workshops complex;
15) site of male Lazaret;
16) rock pool;
17) road formation between chapel and dam;
18) road formation approaching the cemetery;
19) road formation between St Michael’s Golf Links and Jennifer Street;
20) the cemetery;
21) tramway formation.

The Flowers Hospital.

THIS IS WHERE THE CURRENT MUSEUM IS LOCATED WARD 1 IS CURRENTLY OPEN FOR INSPECTION AND GUIDES BY VOLUNTEERS FROM THE FRIENDS OF THE PHH MUSEUM EVERY SUNDAY AND MONDAY 2 to 5 pm ANY VISITORS INTENDING BUS TOURS BY APPOINTMENT ONLY RING 02 94197783 THERE ARE A LOT OF SCENIC ATTRACTIONS AND A SELECTION OF RESTAURANTS IN THE LOCAL AREA - DON'T FORGET TO VISIT SOON This group of buildings comprises six basically identical pavilions of single storey, with sub-basements on the lower (eastern) slope. They are built of pale grey sandbricks made at the State sand brick factory at Botany and have reinforced concrete lintels to the windows, hipped slate roofs with lead ridgecapping and copper venting cupolas. The entrances to the pavilions are marked by porticos having Tuscan columns supporting an arched central roof portion and the soffits of both porch and verandahs are timber boarded. At either end of each building is an attached subsidiary pavilion containing offices, laundries and ablutions. The central part of each building has a hallway in themiddle with large dormitories on either side, and the wards have clerestory windows for additional light and ventilation. There are slight variations in detail from one pavilion to another. An early addition to the Flowers Hospital was the Hill Theatre, an operating theatre of similar design but built of brown bricks, and located between Wards 5 and 6. The design of the Flowers’ buildings reflects Victorian hospital planning in the Classic tradition of large hospital wards either side of a main corridor, with subsidiaryoffices and facilities at either end.

Store, formerly lecture hall.

North of the Flowers Hospital is a large hall, possibly an original dining room, of timber construction. The infilling of grey sandbricks between liver brick piers suggests that this building is older than the Flowers pavilions. It retains many of its original features, including French doors which open onto an enclosed verandah.
The walls are of rusticated weatherboard externally with hardboard linings internally; the roof is of asbestos cement; externally there are later additions of similar detail.

Manager’s (pine) cottage.

A timber Federation style building which appears to be relatively intact externally. It retains a significant post and rail fence on either side. (Interior not inspected).

Six residential cottages.

A group of three semi-detached residential buildings. The southern most pair of cottages, appearing to date from the 1890s, is rusticated weatherboard with timber framed verandah, corrugated iron roof and double hung large paned windows. Thechimney is rendered, some of the verandah is infilled and the building has a gambrel roof. The northern most cottages (c 1915) are of rusticated weatherboard on a brick base, with a Marseilles tiled roof. The verandah is enclosed with fibro sheeting and there is a squat Arts and Crafts style sandstone chimney, lath and plaster internal lining and double hung small paned windows and sunhoods. The middle pair of cottages is similar to the northern most pair, but has a newer Swiss pattern tile roof. Both cottages have generally original high waisted doors and joinery, fibrous plaster ceilings with decorative designs and French doors to the verandahs. The sandstone kerbing and guttering outside the cottages appears original and is significant.

Two military wards.

World War One military wards which are shown on the 1928 plan of the hospital. In 1917, four pavilions of wood and corrugated iron were erected by the military for use by infectious cases in returned servicemen. The buildings contain some original doors and windows and timber linings. The complex appears to have been reclad with asbestos cement and the roof hipped and capped by curved ventilator cowlings.

The 1930's nurses home.

A three storey brick building typical of the inter-war Georgian Revival style, with double hung windows, brick trims to sills and lintels and three large hipped bays to the main east front. The roof is clad in Marseilles tiles.

Sewing room, formerly Superintendent’s Cottage.

A rusticated weatherboard former residence, built c 1915, with shingled sunhoods and fascia, timber verandah and balustrade and a later Marseilles tiled roof. There is a garage of similar dateadjacent and a trellis survives, sheltering the rear entrance.

Institute of tropical medicine.

A building which was originally part of the infectious wards and later a nurses training school. It is in the Federation Free style with a Marseilles tiled roof, exposedrafters, rough cast fascia and chimneys. The interior has generally original features, including bullnosed reveals, doors and other joinery. There are various outbuildings of similar period. Later additions on the north and south side almost connect to the outbuildings, forming a quadrangle.

Nurses memorial chapel.

Built in brick in 1982 to replace the 1967 memorial chapel destroyed by fire, to the same plan. The free standing stone Cross outside the chapel is built of stone from the original hospital gatehouse on Anzac Parade, demolished c 1950.

Golf clubhouse.

This building, formerly the old hospital laundry, is the sole remaining item of the complex shown as the Coast Hospital on the 1928 map. It appears to date from c 1900 and is built of brick with a corrugated ironroof and has two gabled bays to the main north elevation. There have been various additions. The interior retains its original kingpost trussed roof, board ceiling and clerestory roof light to the main room.

Landscape.

The topography of the coast is dependent on slight upwarping of the upper beds of the Hawkesbury sandstone, which occurs both north and south of the heads of Botany Bay. The upstanding coastal relief is due to the action of the sea on hard and chemically stable rock with flattish bedding and strong vertical joints. This produces a series of shore platforms, abrupt cliffs, and offshore bomboras. Any weakness in the bedding is exploited by the sea, resulting in an abrupt re-entrant or geo. Little Bay is a small subdued geo on a scale rare on this stretch of the coast. It has shallow water and a clean bay head beach in fine sand, unlike other geos, which tend to be moremassive and to be located in higher energy environments. The above features produce a coast of high visual attraction and variedrecreational value.

Memorial clock tower and clock.

A memorial to two World War Two Air Force servicemen, constructed in1953 in brick, which contains the clock originally housed in a tower of wood and iron. The clock originated in Blenheim, Germany,in 1878 and was brought to Australia for the 1882 Sydney Exhibition. Erected at the coast hospital in 1898.

Phoenix palms, coraltrees and Norfolk Island pines.

Around the main drive. The pines were planted in 1886 under the supervision of the director of theBotanic Gardens.

Dam and pond.

Formed to supply water to the original hospital.

Site of former stables and workshop complex.

The only remains of the pre-1928 complex appear to be several sandstone retaining walls and possibly a small grey brick walled and fibro roofed store building.

Site of former male Lazaret.

On the north side of the bay.

Rock Pool.

Constructed in 1904 on the south lip of Little Bay for the use of nurses.

Road formations.

A number of original road formations, edged with blocks of sandstone, remain in various locations. Largely intact sections occur between the chapel and dam, approaching the cemetery and between St Michael’s Golf Links and the Jennifer Street bushland. The last is believed to have been built as part of the original grand design for the Flowers Hospital. The cemetery. Located at the southern extremity of the original hospital boundary, is on a sandy but slightly hilly site and covers an area of approximately 100m x 170m bounded by a simple timber fence. A road formationwith remains of a made surface and stone edging winds through the cemetery. The cemetery was mentioned as early as 1884 inthe annual report of the board of health to the legislative assembly. Broughton reported in 1963 that the cemetery contained

' ..headstones bearing Chinese inscriptions. Some of these date back to 1883, when a few Chinese
were admitted to the hospital’.

The graves are generally scattered with no apparent layout however, most of the headstones face north and the oldest remaining
headstone dates from 6 January 1897 (grave of Francis James Thomas-Tamana, from the Byron’s Island (Gilbert group).
Sandstone, marble, granite and wood have been used for monuments and Randwick Historical Society reported in 1979 that the
cemetery contained ‘about 1,000 wooden pegs indicating graves of Chinese who died in this hospital’. It is reported that most of the wooden markers were removed in the 1981 cleanup. It is reported that 3,000 people are buried in the cemetery.

Tramway formation.

Within the hospital bushland, off Jennifer Street, is the old formation of the balloon loop installed as a short branch from
the Sydney to La Perouse tramway in 1915. The line, known as the Flowers’ Loop, was opened for traffic in 1916, but was rarely
used, except for storage purposes, as the new hospital entrance planned for the vicinity was not constructed when the original
plans for the Flowers’ Hospital were not implemented. The tracks were lifted when the loop finally closed in 1933.

Condition and Integrity :

Regarding the Aboriginal sites, the sandstone shelter with shell midden has suffered some disturbance, as has the midden running around the southern side of Little Bay. The axe grinding groove site is in good condition.

The Leprosy Lazaret is represented by some physical remains including footings of some of the buildings and a substantial part of the sandstone boundary wall.

Of the two cemeteries, one is now completely covered by regenerating coastal heath and swamp vegetation whilethe other still has a number of grave monuments visible.

In the Flowers Hospital some of the wards and ancillary rooms retain original joinery, including doors, and Ward 5 retains an original washroom with white tiles and fittings. In this ward is also a private room with white wall tile decoration, but the green tiles in Wards 5 and 6 are believed to be replacement tiles dating from the 1930s. During the 1970s there were extensive additions and linkages between the wings. Verandahs have been enclosed with timber and glass infill, with some aluminium sunscreen awnings.

Location :

About 80ha, Anzac Parade, Little Bay, comprising:

1) the area bounded on the west by the western boundary of the current Prince Henry Hospital site, on the south by the southern boundaries of the hospital site and the Coast Golf Course, on the east by Low Water Mark and on the north by the northern boundary of the hospital site and the western and northern boundaries of the Coast Golf Course;

2) cemetery, located 1.3km south-south-east of the hospital;

3) the old road formation leading to the cemetery from the north;

and, 4) the old road formation on the western side of St Michaels Golf Links.

The Register of the National Estate has been compiled since 1976.

The Commission is in the process of developing and/or upgrading official
statements of significance for places listed prior to 1991.

This Report produced : 03 August 2006 and details added by PHH Tranined Nurses Association
At Prince Henry Hospital Nursing and Medical Regional Museum : phhmuseumsociety@hotmail.com AND Pieter Cordia can be contacted at pccordia@bigpond.net.au

Source Reference is
Register of the National Estate Data Base URL : http://www.ahc.gov.au/net/rnedb.html