Queensland’s highest hospital turns 125 years old

Queensland’s highest hospital, the Herberton Hospital, is celebrating its 125^th birthday this year.

The hospital, which sits at 915m above sea level, making it the loftiest in the State, was first established as the Tinaroo District Hospital in 1883, just three years after the founding of Herberton township.

Health Minister Stephen Robertson said the environmentally friendly hospital had kept up with the times and continued to provide north Queenslanders with first class health services.

“Regional hospitals such as Herberton play an important part in the delivery of health services to smaller communities, and local residents are well served by this important facility,” he said.

“The current hospital structure was built in 1984 and is a contemporary 38-bed facility providing mainly long stay nursing home-type care and palliative care.

“The hospital was refurbished in 2008 thanks to a Commonwealth funded grant, which has delivered an even more aged-friendly environment for residents.

“It also incorporates the latest in environmentally friendly technologies.

“This includes collecting rain water from the hospital roof and the installation of new energy efficient water heaters.

“In addition, a newly installed sewerage system cleverly uses worms and micro-organisms to turn sewage into clear water which then filters through 6km of hose on to the hospital gardens.’’

Mr Robertson said Herberton Hospital also enjoyed the services of the Queensland’s longest-serving Medical Superintendent, Dr Ken Conolly.

“Dr Conolly has more than 37 years of dedicated service to the local community and we are lucky to have him as our Medical Superintendent,’’ Mr Robertson said.

Mr Robertson said Herberton had played a key part in the economic development of Far North Queensland.

“The discovery of tin at Herberton was largely responsible for the development of the towns of Atherton and Mareeba, which were originally only stopover places for wagons that plied the route between Port Douglas and Herberton,” he said.

“Herberton Hospital moved to its present location in the town in 1884, the year after it was established.

“In those early days, Herberton Hospital provided surgical and maternity services to a wide area of the southern end of the Tablelands.

“In 1974, the then Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam, made a flying visit to the Herberton to allay fears that the hospital was about to close. Then, in 1977, another proposal to close the hospital was made and rejected.”

While Herberton Hospital’s 125^th anniversary falls during October this year, official celebrations of the milestone will take place next year to coincide with Tablelands Regional Council festivities designed to mark the 150^th anniversary of Queensland statehood.

The Tablelands Regional Council’s Q150 celebrations next year will be centred on Herberton as the oldest town on the Tablelands.

MEDIA: Martin Philip 3225 2680