Bass Coast Post
  • Home
    • Recent articles
  • News
    • Point of view
    • View from the chamber
  • Writers
    • Anne Davie
    • Anne Heath Mennell
    • Bob Middleton
    • Carolyn Landon
    • Catherine Watson
    • Christine Grayden
    • Dick Wettenhall
    • Ed Thexton
    • Etsuko Yasunaga
    • Frank Coldebella
    • Gayle Marien
    • Geoff Ellis
    • Gill Heal
    • Harry Freeman
    • Ian Burns
    • Joan Woods
    • John Coldebella
    • Julie Paterson
    • Julie Statkus
    • Kit Sleeman
    • Laura Brearley >
      • Coastal Connections
    • Lauren Burns
    • Liane Arno
    • Linda Cuttriss
    • Linda Gordon
    • Lisa Schonberg
    • Liz Low
    • Marian Quigley
    • Mark Robertson
    • Mary Whelan
    • Meryl Brown Tobin
    • Michael Whelan
    • Mikhaela Barlow
    • Miriam Strickland
    • Natasha Williams-Novak
    • Neil Daly
    • Patsy Hunt
    • Pauline Wilkinson
    • Richard Kemp
    • Sally McNiece
    • Terri Allen
    • Tim Shannon
  • Features
    • Features 2024
    • Features 2023
    • Features 2022
    • Features 2021
    • Features 2020
    • Features 2019
    • Features 2018
    • Features 2017
    • Features 2016
    • Features 2015
    • Features 2014
    • Features 2013
    • Features 2012
  • Arts
  • Local history
  • Environment
  • Nature notes
    • Nature notes
  • A cook's journal
  • Community
    • Diary
    • Courses
    • Groups
    • Stories
  • Contact us

​Historic hospital plans return to Wonthaggi

23/6/2023

1 Comment

 
Picture
By Brad Lester
 
Architectural plans for the first permanent Wonthaggi Hospital dating from 1913 have been returned home after a surprise find at a church sale in regional Victoria.
 
The meticulous hand-drawn plans were found at the Clunes Presbytery Open Garden Garage Sale by a connection of Wonthaggi historian Sam Gatto.

Recognising the plans’ significance, Mr Gatto worked with Bass Coast Health CEO Jan Child to buy the framed plans and transport them to Wonthaggi Hospital.
 
The plans were revealed to the public at a morning tea at the hospital on Thursday 22 June and are displayed proudly within the hospital, at Café 1910, near an original part of the building.

​
“The original drawings have come back home more than 100 years after they were drawn,” Mr Gatto said.
 
Ms Child was impressed by the craftmanship and history attached to the plans. “To see the plans is so special. It really is an exciting piece,” she said.
 
“The Wonthaggi Hospital has always been embedded in this community and to have this piece of history on display for all to appreciate will only strength that bond.”
 
A friend of Sam’s son Matteo, Lauren Reece, discovered the plans during the garage sale, held as part of the Clunes Booktown Festival in March this year. Lauren was aware that Sam had written the history of the Wonthaggi hospital, Accepting the Challenge.

She phoned Matteo to ask him if Sam was interested in the framed plans. It was Sunday, and she was only there for the day, so time was of the essence.
 
Matteo rang Sam who was in his car on his way to a concert in Melbourne. Sam in turn rang Ms Child, who immediately agreed to pay the $350 asking price.
 
Sam then rang Matteo and he in turn asked Lauren to buy the plans and then look after them until she met Matteo. The painstaking process of safely returning the plans to Wonthaggi was almost complete.
 
The garage sale was held by Dr Kevin Lee, a specialist physician and endocrinologist, as well as a medical researcher at Monash University.
Picture
Members of the Wonthaggi Historical Society were on hand to see the plans unveiled.
1 Comment
Marjorie Jane Scott
6/7/2023 01:51:30 pm

A good news story

Reply



Leave a Reply.