AFTER years of planning the Bega District Hospital was finally built and officially opened by Robert Lucas Tooth.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
After the ceremony a reporter from the Bega Standard was among those who had a look through the institution.
Here is his description.
THE main building is of brick, with wings of wood, and faces the north.
It is a neat comfortable looking edifice and has the appearance of a villa, except for the four boxes at each of the four corners.
The dimensions are 96 x 42.
In front of the main building is a verandah, projecting five feet, its width, from the line, and a hall six feet wide leads right through.
On the right as you enter is the waiting room, then another hall six-feet wide intersecting the main one at right angles divides that from the board room.
Opposite to them are a private ward and the operating room.
The left wing opens on to a verandah eight foot wide, and is the male ward 25 x 21, a verandah eight feet wide being also at the back.
This will accommodate six beds.
There is a good fireplace in it, and in the hot weather there will be ample ventilation, splendid provision being made for both this and the female ward.
In the front at the end of the verandah are two earth closets and at the back a bathroom both 7ft 6ft square, and a lobby leading into each.
At the door is a linen press opening on to the hall.
The hall running through leads to the female ward, 21 x 15, it being built the same as the male ward and large enough for four beds.
Opening on the hall on the front side is a linen room, and directly opposite, the nurse's room.
A covered way of 20 feet leads to the kitchen at the rear, and it has a five-foot verandah.
A door from this opens into the kitchen 15 x 12, behind which is a bedroom, 15 x 10, opening into a bathroom 10 x 7.
A grand range has been fitted up in the kitchen.
A door opens from the kitchen to the wash house 15 x 12, which also opens on to a verandah, and behind this room is a store room, 15 x 10.
The washroom has a set of tubs, a copper, and a sink built in, and is most convenient.
A large underground tank is situated between the main building and the kitchen, and its capacity is some thousands of gallons, enough when full to last the institution some months.
Pipes lead from the whole of the roof into it, and but little rain will suffice to fill it from such a large scope of roof.
