Our History
Grampians Health was formed on 1 November 2021 through the amalgamation of:
- Ballarat Health Services
- Edenhope and District Memorial Hospital
- Stawell Regional Health
- Wimmera Health Care Group (located across Horsham and Dimboola)
The amalgamation followed significant local community consultation, and approval from the Minister for Health under the Victorian Health Services Act 1988.
Each of these foundational health services, contributes a unique and fascinating history to Grampians Health. For example, digital copies of reports from your local hospital’s early years can be added to our Historical Archive, if we don’t already have a copy.
Do you have unique historical information?
Please message us with your contact details, along with a description of the historical information you have library@gh.org.au
Ballarat Hospital
Below is the history of the Ballarat Hospital.
Historical overview
The foundation stone for the original 42 bed hospital was laid on the existing site on Christmas day 1855.
Australia’s first successful caesarean section on a living woman, was performed by Thomas Hillas – a surgeon at Ballarat Hospital, in 1872.
Ballarat Health Services is the amalgamation of The Queen Elizabeth Centre and the Lakeside Psychiatric Hospital.
The hospital was originally established as the Ballarat Hospital on 25 December 1855, just a year after the Eureka Stockade rebellion on December 3, 1854.
Ballarat District Benevolent Asylum and Lying in Hospital was renamed The Queen Elizabeth Centre after Queen Elizabeth I in 1945. This facility was eventually made part of the Ballarat Hospital in 1987.
A simple search for ‘Ballarat Hospital’ on Trove (The National Library of Australia) will take you to a number of 1890’s newspaper articles describing the committee meetings of the hospital of the day. They are fascinating reading!
Many annual reports, images and other items can be found at the Grampians Health Library’s Historical Archives website.
More information
PO Box 2292 Bakery Hill Vic 3354
Email: ballarathistoricalsociety@gmail.com
· Victorian Collections: Ballarat Heritage Services: Image – Ballarat Benevolent Asylum c1904
· Victorian Collections: Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute: Looking SW toward Queen Elizabeth Centre 1860
· Victorian Collections: Federation University Historical Collection: Benevolent Asylum Ballarat, 1861
· Victorian Collections: Ballarat Hospital [Date unknown]
· Victorian Collections: Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute: 1st Ballarat Hospital [Max Harris Collection]
· Forster, F.M.C. (1970). Caesarean section and its early Australian history. The Medical Journal of Australia, July. Pages 33-38
Dimboola Hospital
Below is a history of the Dimboola hospital.
Historical overview
Dr Alister Hinchley commenced practice in Dimboola in June 1939. Even though he refused to purchase Airlie Hospital Pty Ltd –encouraging that it be community owned instead, he went on to serve the Dimboola community as its doctor, for 52 years. A talented artist, paintings and sketches by Dr Hinchley are now keenly sought after. The Hinchley wing at Dimboola is named in his honour.
Dimboola Bush Nursing Hospital was formally established on 5th November 1943. This effectively, consolidated a number of private hospitals that had existed at various times in the township, such as Lalloween, Lister Private Hospital and Airlie Private Hospital.
Dimboola Hospital became part of the Wimmera Health Care Group on 1st November 1995.
Treasures in our archive
Dimboola and District Hospital 1971-1972 Annual Report
Grampians Health Library appreciates the community assistance in finding Dimboola and District Hospital annual reports and other documents from its inception. Please email us at library@gh.org.au if you have items that may be vital to complete our collection.
More information
67 Lloyd Street Dimboola Vic 3414
Phone: Bruce Donnelly on 0408 400 440
Email: evelyn.king@rocketmail.com
Edenhope Hospital
Below is a history of the Edenhope hospital.
Historical overview
This brief history is from the Edenhope & District Memorial Hospital Annual Report 1989.
“The origins of Edenhope and District Memorial Hospital began way back in 1910. The first hospital was situated at the house of Mr. Tabby Preece in Elizabeth Street. This building was called the Minogues, the name of the hospital midwife, Ms Jean Minogue.
The residence was established as a Bush Nursing Hospital in January 1913. Two rooms were occupied as hospital quarters and Sr. Klugg, known as the bush nurse, travelled the district by horse. The waiting room was at the home of Alf Clark who resided some three blocks away.
The hospital was moved closer to the present site, in the home of Mrs. Dishon. The hospital was rebuilt in the 1920s to become two wards (5 beds) with glassed-in verandas.
The hospital was opened by Sir James Barnett, Hon. Secretary of V.B.N.A., on 12 December 1930. The President was Dr. J. G. Craig, and the sister-in-Charge, Sr. E. Burley. It continued under the aegis of the Association until the 30th of September 1950, when transfer was made to the Hospital and Charities Commission.
At the Annual General Meeting of Edenhope Bush Nursing Hospital, on 31st July 1950, it was resolved for the hospital to be named Edenhope and District Hospital. The hospital closed for the period 21st September 1951 to 14th November 1951.
During 1961 the hospital was modernised, again, with added extensions.”
Treasures in our archive
Edenhope and District Memorial Hospital Annual Report 1988
Grampians Health Library appreciates the community assistance in finding Edenhope and District Memorial Hospital annual reports and other documents from its inception. Please email us at library@gh.org.au if you have items that may be vital to complete our collection.
More information
Edenhope and District Historical Society Inc.
177 Elizabeth Street Edenhope Vic 3318
Phone: 0409 551 911
Email glangsworth@bigpond.com
Horsham Hospital
Below is a history of the Horsham hospital.
Historical overview
Horsham Hospital was formally founded on August 27th, 1874, and incorporated in 1877. Horsham campus recently celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2024.
Australia’s first documented spinal anaesthetic was conducted at Horsham Hospital on January 7th, 1902, by Dr Robert H. Ritchie. The 78 year old patient required a full leg amputation, but traditional pain-relief medication was not suitable. A 2% cocaine solution was injected into the man’s spine and the amputation was successfully completed.
Horsham’s Dr Alan Wolff and Sally Taylor wrote a world-leading text about establishing quality systems in health care “Enhancing Patient Care: A practical guide to improving quality and safety in hospitals” in 2009. This landmark book was based on his 37 years work and innovation as Chief Medical Officer at Wimmera Health Care Group.
Horsham merged with Dimboola Memorial Hospital on November 1st, 1995, to become Wimmera Health Care Group.
Treasures in our archive
More information
PO Box 1113, Horsham Victoria 3402
Phone: Jacquelyn O’Connor on 0419 883 959
Email: horshamhistorical@gmail.com
Miller, P. (2020, November 23). The Wolff Pact Part One [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fky5MxGheVM
Part Two [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/H-9LAfJc8b4?si=4xxHFZcYz91NBqa6
Part Three [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/AgpTdd-8jYA?si=VxTahYcYUURIFPhn
Part Four [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/EES2Ogo-ED4?si=5aJokj0TS8ANnN0W
Stawell Hospital
Below is a history of the Stawell hospital.
Historical overview
Stawell’s hospital is the oldest continuing institution in the town to this day. It grew from a tiny temporary hospital in the midst of the diggings at Pleasant Creek and Deep Lead in 1859 during the height of Victoria’s gold rush.
In March 1858, the Pleasant Creek mining district numbered around 15,000 people, most living in tents with inadequate sanitation and poor water supply. This district stretched from Glenorchy to Great Western.
On August 7th, 1858, the people of Pleasant Creek district held a public meeting with the view to opening their own hospital – just as Ararat were in the process of doing.
A temporary weatherboard hospital was built at what is now known as Glenvale Road, Deep Lead, using money donated at this meeting, a staggering £130.00, or $15845.00 today. It accommodated 12 beds with two smaller wards, as well as rooms for the resident doctor, and the husband and wife nursing team. The first patients were admitted to this temporary hospital on 26th February 1859.
On December 31, 1860, the new foundation stone of the new permanent hospital in the township of Stawell, was laid along with a quantity of coins, a copy of the first annual report and a number of district newspapers dated December 28, 1860. This hospital was formally opened on June 21, 1861. It had four wards accommodating 40 patients with an operating room, committee room, bathroom, dispensary and living and working space for a resident staff of three. In 1882, a benevolent ward was added and the name changed to Stawell Hospital and Benevolent Asylum.
In December 1933 the original foundation stone was re-laid at the entrance of the new hospital at St George Sands in Sloane Street. The former site became the Pleasant Creek Special School (1937-1968).
Treasures in our archive
More information
46 Longfield Street, Stawell Vic 3380
Phone: 03 5358 3789
Email: shsenquiries@stawhist.com.au
· Victorian Collections: Pleasant Creek – Stawell Hospital and Benevolent Asylum c1897
· Victorian Collections: Stawell Pleasant Creek Hospital 1919
· Victorian Heritage Database: Former Pleasant Creek Hospital (Nara Building), […] STAWELL.