07/04/2026
In the Maryborough Hospital grounds toward the eastern side facing Walker St is a two-storey building that was once the hospital's Medical Superintendent's residence. It was built in 1936-37 to meet a need for an additional doctor's residence as at the time the only doctor's residence in use was the 1928 built house occupied by the then Medical Superintendent (now used as the WB Hospitals Museum).
The house was designed by Maryborough architect, who was also the hospital's architect at the time, P.O.E Hawkes. Hawkes was instructed by the Hospital's Board to draw up plans and specifications for a two storey building as shown in the Australian Home Beautiful Journal, December 1st 1934. This edition of the Australian Home Beautiful Journal contained some the prize winning entries from a recent architectural competition run by the magazine and certainly provided the inspiration for the final building plan.
By late September 1937 the new doctor's residence had been built. Described at the time as an imposing structure and a decided acquisition to the hospital grounds. Of two storeys, it was built on the modern lines of the time, the living quarters on the ground floor, with sleeping accommodation on the upper storey. Entrance was gained to the bottom storey by way of a porch. From the stair hall, entrance was made to the lounge, which opened on to a verandah at the back, and also into the dining room. Other rooms on the ground floor were a maid's room, kitchen and pantry, and toilet. On the top floor was three bed rooms, dressing room, bathroom, toilet and servery, and a solarium at the front of the building to provide ample space for 'enjoyment of the night air in the summer time'. The outer walls were finished in traventene style, and white plaster boards on the inner walls and ceiling, Luskan tiles were used for the roof. The builder was Constructions Pty Ltd, Brisbane, the cost approximately £2,500 (around $304,000 today).
Over time some modifications occurred including closing in the verandahs at the back of the upper and ground floors and adding a garage on the right side. In the 1990s when no longer used as the medical superintendent's residence, the inside was modified to accommodate several single medical officers.
Photo from the 1940s shows a view of the house half side-on from Walker St, the house to the right in the background is the 1928 built doctor's residence now the WB Hospitals Museum. Source: WB Hospitals Museum Soc. Inc.
