80 Hampden Road
Before this maternity hospital opened in 1908, babies were normally born at home. There was no formal training and anyone could set up as a midwife. By the end of the 19th century, there was increasing concern about incompetent midwives and high mortality rates of both mothers and babies.
In 1901, Tasmania was the first state to introduce midwifery examination and registration and there were increasing calls for a maternity hospital in Hobart.
The Queen Alexandra Hospital offered the only midwifery training in Hobart for many years and catered for both private and public patients, with an average hospital stay of 15 days.
At first it refused to admit single women. The Queen Alex also operated a district nursing service catering for home deliveries and providing both prenatal and postnatal visits. Within a few years of the hospital opening, the clean sanitised environment, care and bed rest led to a dramatic decrease in maternal and infant mortality. This marked a shift to more professional medical standards and also the beginning of medical and official intervention in childbirth and child rearing, which has at times been controversial.
The hospital was never large enough to meet demand and there were many additions over the years. Centralisation of services resulted in the transfer of the Queen Alexandra to the Royal Hobart Hospital site in August 1980. Since then, the buildings have been used as a centre for voluntary health and welfare organisations, and now for luxury apartment accommodation.
Because I was the only girl, I stayed at Nan’s and Pa’s when Mum went to hospital (to have a baby). But dad came and got me – it was at night because I don’t think kids were allowed in there…
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Because I was the only girl, I stayed at Nan’s and Pa’s when Mum went to hospital (to have a baby). But dad came and got me – it was at night because I don’t think kids were allowed in there. …
But mum was on the veranda in that ward they had there. Mum brought Sonia, my sister, up to the window and dad lifted me up under the arms to see my little sister. That I do remember.
[Years later, Jan had her child in the same hospital.]
The matron was very hard. She was strict – a rule was a rule. ‘You walk 20 times up and down the hall every hour on the hour!’ She had me terrified…
– Jan Scott talking about her childhood in the 1950s
Open Day at the Queen Alexandra Hospital 1908
Source
Tasmanian Mail, 4 April 1908 p.19
Opening Day of the Alexandra Hospital for Women in 1908
Source
Weekly Courier, 6 February 1908 p.23
Queen Alexandra Hospital nurses’ quarters 1908
The nurses’ quarters is the original colonial villa of the property on Hampden Road.
Source
Weekly Courier, 6 February 1908 p.23
Queen Alexandra Hospital 1910
The addition of open-air verandahs reflects the medical belief at the time in the value of fresh air and sunshine for quicker medical recovery.
Source
Weekly Courier, 6 February 1910 p.23
Alexandra Maternity Hospital 1915
Source
Tasmanian Mail, 12 August 1915
The Queen Alexandra Hospital is on the far right in the foreground c1920
Note the kitchen gardens in which the hospital grew much of its food.
Source
Colin Dennison Collection
Kelly family grave in St David’s Park 2015
Elizabeth Kelly died aged 33 years. Infant mortality rates were very high before the 20th century. Changes in public health resulting in new standards of care and hygiene were implemented by medical institutions such as the Queen Alexandra Hospital which drastically reduced infant and maternal death rates.
Photo
Private collection
Inside the new hospital
Source
Tasmanian Mail, 15 August 1912 p.22
Queen Alexandra Hospital site 2015
Queen Alexandra Hospital is now residential apartments.
Photo
Private collection