The Victoria Hospital for Infectious Diseases began as 'little more than a tent outpost' in response to an outbreak of smallpox in 1893. It was located in the Perth suburb of Subiaco (later known as Shenton Park). Children with infectious diseases were regularly admitted during the early life of the hospital. In 1938, 'after many changes and more epidemics', the hospital became the Metropolitan Infectious Diseases Hospital.
A letter of appreciation for the donation from The Daily News Orphans' Christmas Cheer Fund in 1915 gives an insight into life at the Victoria Hospital for Infectious Diseases:
I have to acknowledge with grateful thanks the cheque to the value of £1 0s. 6d…for the purpose of brightening the Christmas tide of those unfortunate children at the Infectious Hospital…The Christmas passed off very satisfactorily, and the gifts that we were enabled to purchase were very much appreciated by the children, numbering close to 40 in the respective wards.Letter, 5 January 1916 published in The Daily News 2 December 1916
1893 - 1938 Victoria Hospital for Infectious Diseases
1938 - 1956 Metropolitan Infectious Diseases Hospital
Sources used to compile this entry: 'The Daily News [Christmas Cheer Fund]', The Daily News, 2 December 1916, p. 10, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article81358001; Rogers, Lauren, 'Royal Perth Rehabilitation Hospital', in Gregory, Jenny and Jan Gothard [editors] (eds), Historical Encyclopedia of Western Australia, University of Western Australia Press, Crawley, W.A., 2009, p. 784.
Prepared by: Debra Rosser
Created: 15 February 2013, Last modified: 21 October 2020
Last updated: 17 October 2023
Cite this: https://www.findandconnect.gov.au/ref/wa/biogs/WE00912b.htm
First published by the Find & Connect Web Resource Project for the Commonwealth of Australia, 2011
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