Hospital Museum

The Wide Bay Hospitals Museum in Maryborough have been researching Maryborough’s early public hospitals since 1991, collating documents, photos, building plans, and old medical equipment.

The Wide Bay Hospitals Museum Society (WBHMS) was formed when the hospital boards were disbanded in 1991, deciding to preserve the history starting in the late 1850s.

The Maryborough Hospital opened in 1887 and has remained in continuous operation. An earlier hospital in Maryborough was established in 1854, moving a number of times before land was set aside for the current hospital in the mid-1880s.

The museum started in the original operating room of the hospital of the 1880s. The focus has been on Maryborough hospitals and has expanded to include more hospitals across the region.

The Wide Bay Hospitals Museum has always been on the grounds of Maryborough Hospital, one of only a few in Australia to do so. It is located on the corner of Yaralla and Walker Streets.

The last resident doctor at Maryborough Hospital retired and moved out of the doctor’s residence building built in 1928. The house is now used by the Wide Bay Hospitals Museum Society.

Operated by volunteers, the museum is only open on Thursday mornings.

To get there:

Head south on Bruce Hwy, take the exit towards Maryborough and Hervey Bay onto Walker St. Follow Walker St for 2.3km and turn left into Yaralla St at the brown sign for Hospital Museum. Park on the street with the entry to the museum on Yaralla St for the building on the corner.

Heading north on Bruce Hwy, on crossing Mary River continue on the highway for 900m passed the first exit for Maryborough and turning right at the next into Walker St. Follow Walker St for 2.3km and turn left into Yaralla St at the brown sign for Hospital Museum. Park on the street with the entry to the museum on Yaralla St for the building on the corner.

Coming from Hervey Bay, head towards Maryborough on Saltwater Creek Rd. In Maryborough, Saltwater Creek Rd bends to the right becoming John St. Continue on John St for 600m and turn right into Walker St. Follow John St for 1.6km and turn right into Yaralla St at the brown sign for Hospital Museum. Park on the street with the entry to the museum on Yaralla St for the building on the corner.

Cost: Free

Hours: Thu 9.30am-12pm

Toilets: No

Bins: No

Tables: No

Seating: No

Water: No

Food: No

Wheelchair accessible: No

Pets: No

BBQ: No

Playground: No

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/widebayhospitalmuseum/