Here in History – Early Days of the Gladstone Hospital

The Gladstone Hospital was opened in 1890 and, while it was a primitive by modern standards, it was a start. John Emmanuel Coase was the inaugural appointed secretary, and he remained in this position until shortly before his death in 1907. John Willoughby Brown, (Mayor in 1903) was the next secretary and he continued until 1926.

The Gladstone Hospital Board was established in 1926, and P J Gould was elected chairman, with James Burrows from Many Peaks becoming secretary. The secretaries’ office was firstly in the old town hall, but the board moved it to a more central position in Goondoon Street where Jim Burrows could be seen every working day. The Gladstone Hospital Board (GHB) soon made progress by demolishing the first building and replacing it with a concrete structure. More buildings were constructed in the grounds, and these included a geriatric ward and night nurses’ quarters. Later a new outpatient’s ward with ancillary services was erected. In 1947, Jim Burrows resigned, having been secretary for the GHB for twenty years.