The Mareeba Babies' Hospital was established at 19-21 Belmore Terrace, Woodville in 1917 in a large building that had been an accommodation for sick soldiers but was no longer required by the military authorities. It took over the care of infants under the age of two, predominantly with digestive ailments, from the Babies' Hospital at St Peters which was established by the Babies' Hospital Association in 1915. The Babies' Hospital Association committee was made up of philanthropic women and prominent Adelaide doctors. Its first president was Lady Galway, the wife of the then Governor of South Australia, Sir Henry Lionel Galway.

Prior to the hospital's move to Woodville in 1917 the Government proposed that the Babies' Hospital be placed under the control of the Inspector General of Hospitals, with the Association acting as an advisory body. After the move in August of that year it became formally known as the Mareeba Babies' Hospital.

In 1921 Mareeba was also used as a part-time training hospital for nurses. During the 1920s additions were made to the premises so that it could accommodate up to seventy babies. Rooms for mothers with babies were also added. The Babies Hospital Association continued its involvement with Mareeba until the Association disbanded in 1951 at which time the hospital came under the control of the Adelaide Children's Hospital Board.

In February 1959 the Nurses Board gave approval for the new Queen Elizabeth Hospital to train its nurses in children's nursing at Mareeba. By 1960 the Hospital had become the Children's Annex of the QEH. It continued in to care for sick infants and premature babies until 1969. The original building of the Mareeba Hospital is now a Pregnancy Advisory Centre.

Events

1917 - c. 1969

Mareeba Babies Hospital situated at 19-21 Bemore Terrace, Woodville. Location: Woodville