The Queensland Lying-In Hospital was established on 2 November 1864 in rented accommodation, “Fairview House”, Leichardt Street, Brisbane. A ladies committee ran the hospital. On 26 January 1866, the hospital moved to newly built premises in Ann Street, Brisbane. It was renamed the Lady Bowen Hospital, after the wife of Queensland’s first governor, in November 1867. The Queensland Lying-In Hospital provided hospital care for indigent, unmarried and destitute women of Queensland and their babies.
At this time in Queensland the majority of women gave birth at home. Commonly, it was the poor or unmarried who entered hospital to have their babies, although the hospital accommodated paying as well as non-paying patients.
An advertisement appearing in the Brisbane Courier on 15 September 1864 described the facilities at Fairview House:
Hall, Six Large Rooms, Detached Kitchen and Servant’s Room, large Tank and Yard.
From
2 November 1864
To
November 1867
Alternative Names
The Lady Bowen Hospital
The Lady Bowen Lying-In Hospital
Subsequent
