Saturday, 9 August 2025

The old Hospital

 This old hospital is in Deloraine, Tasmania, Australia, I once worked there for about 2 years  as the Sister in Charge during the day only. 

I travelled 1,000 mile each fortnight in my MGB car and in the summer, I'd take the roof off and go for it.  I once came across an elephant on a trailer behind a truck with its trunk over the side of the road where I wanted to pass, oh gosh - I was late for the Doctor's rounds that morning with much laughter from the Doctor's.  

Babies were also born at the Hospital and the Dentist used to pull teeth in the Theatre.  Oneday after dental surgery on many children (we used to use Ether) after all was finished I was talking for awhile to a Nurse and then proceeded to clean away the instruments the Nurses were not permitted to touch, when I became rather fuzzy nearly falling asleep when I saw out the corner of my eye I had left the Ether top off the bottle and the doors and windows were closed - oh dear, the top went on the Ether and the windows I opened along with the door...much laughter from all when I told them how dumb I was.  

So now Arcoona Manor is for sale having been an accommodation house for several years and privately owned.  Arcoona was built in the Edwardian style, was completed in 1892 for a Dr. Cole and his family.


This is one side of Arcoona in about 1967, then me taken there in my uniform.


This photo is of me, Mum and Dad plus my MGB taken about 1967 or 8.

Below is how Arcoona Manor is today. 





The table above is the original, the room we used to call the ballroom when it was a hospital. 






The above room was once a ward as were all the rooms downstairs of size and the fireplaces worked as we always had a fire in them in the winter.
Below is one of the bedrooms upstairs and once was the maid's bedroom along with others.



Deloraine is west of Launceston about 35 minutes drive.  Dotted in red on the map.

78 comments:

  1. Hi Margaret, what a lovely place 😊 Your photos are beautiful and I appreciate ❤️ and enjoyed this amazing tour.

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  2. It's so exciting what you tell about your life in Tasmania. You live on the other side of the world, and it's interesting to hear about. That's a nice picture of you in uniform. Arcoona Manor looks very beautiful.

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    1. I don't often say much about myself Marit, just ever now and then I do.
      Thank you.

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  3. Arcoona Manor sounds like it’s steeped in history and charm.What a wonderful mix of nostalgia and humor my friend. Your memories from the old hospital bring it to life from the elephant-on-the-road story to the ether mishap.

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    1. Always good to remember the funny things that happen in ones life, Asep.

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  4. A wonderful memory! I love the picture of you in uniform.

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    1. Thank you Angie. I only have a couple of photos in my uniform, no camera in those days.

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  5. I love the pictures. That uniform hat is really something.

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    1. Thanks Mary. The Sister's Veil it was called and there were two ways to wear them. Once they were a cloth and you made them yourself as in shape, then paper hard ones were available, so we all used those. There days, there are none!

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  6. I enjoyed the beautiful architecture of Arcoona manor. I also like the lovely forniture.
    Nice photo of you wearing the uniform.
    Great post, today.

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    1. Thank you. Arcoona Manor is a beautiful building and it's good for me to see it refurbished to its former glory.

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  7. Great memories and old photos to tell your story. What a beautiful manor that is. Have a nice day.

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    1. Oh yes Bill, good memories and I've been wondering how many babies were born at Arcoona.

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  8. It looks very grand. No doubt you have many memories apart from the elephant on the road!

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    1. Oh gosh yes David, many wonderful memories from those days.

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  9. Wonderful memories,
    your photos are excellent,
    old and new!!
    How beautiful they are preserving the building!!

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    1. Oh it's just wonderful the Arcoona was restored to its formal glory, love that.

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  10. What a wonderful mix of fond memories, close calls, and colourful moments from your time at that charming old hospital.

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    1. Oh it was fun times back then at the hospital, Arcoona, we were one big happy family.

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  11. Seguramente recordarás con nostalgia esa época.

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  12. I don't know which is funnier, being delayed by an elephant (that excuse would be more reasonable in an Asian country) on your way to work or nearly passing out from ether fumes.

    The house is wonderful and so full of history. I hope there are some recordings of what it was like as a hospital. Official histories are fine, but anecdotes like yours can be lost.

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    1. lol, Andrew. Such funny things happen on the way to work at times and I have a few more funny things also which I didn't mention.
      Gorgeous house, much history for sure, if only the walls could talk.
      That's true about my stories, and I'm sure that everyone that worked there has stories about Arcoona...all probably lost ones.

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  13. Arcoona looked gorgeous before it was converted into a hospital. After all those patients, staff and family visitors, it has been restored into a beautiful shape today.

    You and I must be the same age :) My dresses were the same as yours in 1967-8.

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    1. It was a wonderful building when I was there, Hels. It's a beautiful home and I'm so pleased it wasn't let go to be ruined.
      I have an idea I'm a few years older than you.

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  14. It's a beautiful house. I'm glad you noticed the ether bottle was open.

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    1. Ha! So was I R. A funny situation and the staff and patients did laugh when I told them. It made their day for memory.

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  15. How fascinating it would be to own such a beautiful property! Priceless memories. You look cute in the uniform. Have a wonderful weekend. :) Hugs.

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  16. Always nice to travel back in time and renew memories ... Nice pics.
    (My latest post: Kerala in monsoon: A road trip)

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  17. Schöne Bilder von einem Haus das in der Vergangenheit eine andere Bedeutung hatte.
    Gruß
    Noke

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    1. It did have a different meaning in the past, very different.

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  18. O éter, como você diz no texto, entorpece, mesmo.
    Muito bom seu blog.

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  19. It's so cool to see the old hospital and hear your stories about working there. The photo of you in your uniform is a fantastic bit of history. Your story about the MGB and the elephant is hilarious. I can only imagine the doctor's reaction. And the ether story oh my goodness. It's a great reminder of how things used to be and a funny memory to look back on.

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    1. Both those things are really funny to happen to someone, especially me. I've never forgotten and never will. The circus was travelling between towns at that time.

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  20. I liked seeing the picture of you and then the one with your folks in it. An elephant on the way to work. Very interesting and fun story you shared with us. I love those kinds. Cheers, Ivy.

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    1. Always good to have a fun story and share it if possible.

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  21. Many thanks for sharing fun stories and memories and your photographs too.
    It does look a beautiful house.

    All the best Jan

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    1. It is a beautiful house Jan, it was a pleasure to have worked in it and to see it now is just awesome.

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  22. Thank you ever so Margaret, I enjoyed your memories of this beautiful building very much. The two photos of you were lovely!

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    1. Thank you, Denise, always good to have a laugh at myself for me.

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  23. Impressive - very Poomie like.
    Lord Grantham and the Downtown Abbey lot would approve.

    Do you need rain??????????
    Bucketing down here - at least for the last hour it has been sunny
    so off to see who is freezing in the surf??????
    Cheers
    Colin

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    1. I reckon Lord Grantham would approve for it to be one of their cottages, maybe.
      Yes, we need rain so send it down.
      I bet your waters are warmer than ours.

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    2. You can have our rain - it has poured here for 3 days now.
      Web feet for all.
      The beach is deserted. The cleaners are really kept busy with the
      mess being washed in.
      Cheers
      The FROZEN one!!!!

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  24. Beautiful images, lovely memories, and anecdotes that will remain in our memories.
    Best regards

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    1. Those days will remain with me forever, as many others do too.
      Thank you.

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  25. What an incredible story and a beautiful piece of history! It's amazing to hear about your time working there, and it sounds like you have some unforgettable memories—especially that close call with the ether! And an elephant on the road? That's definitely a story worth telling. It's so cool to see how the hospital has been preserved over the years.

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    1. The circus had come to town back then, the elephant was being transported early in the morning to another city, and I just happened to be going the same way.

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  26. Was this a religious order? I see the nun uniform.

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    1. No John, nothing to do with religion. The uniform I'm wearing is one of a Registered Nurse back in the day. :)

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  27. Wow what a great post. A personal touch to a piece of Tasmanian history. The house has been restored beautifully. I have a friend who trained to be a midwife in Tasmania in the sixties. She is still in touch with some of her colleagues.

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    1. That's good re your friend.
      It is a beautiful place restored to it's former glory, I guess, Diane.

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  28. What a wonderful tour!! Beautiful...
    I had a 1969 MG and LOVED ot! It was red... black vinyl top.
    hugs
    Donna

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    1. Welcome to the MGB club then Donna! Our ended up being red too but I can't find the photo of it.

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  29. El edificio se ve precioso. Me encantó saber de tus recuerdos, tus fotografías son preciosas. Muchos besos.

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  30. Imagens muito bonitas que mostram o velho prédio num belíssimo estado de conservação.
    Cntinuação de boa semana.
    Abraço de amizade.
    Juvenal Nunes

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  31. Un excelente trabajo este que nos has documentado y presentado.

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  32. Amazing how it has transformed! I love the story behind it. I used to work in a hospital too.

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  33. Gorgeous !! And Love The Photos From The Nineteen Hundreds

    Big Hugs ,
    Cheers

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  34. Such lovely post dear Margaret 🤗🥰♥️
    Travelling 1,000 miles every fortnight sounds too much omg 🫢
    Oh you were such a pretty lady as young girl my friend 🤗♥️♥️♥️
    I really loved old pictures of you and your parents with your car 🥰♥️
    Both incidents made me laugh as well 😅
    Hospital is elegant undoubtedly 👍
    Blessings to you and yours my friend 🥰♥️🙏

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  35. Querida amiga, preciosa documentación nos dejas, me encantó tu historia.
    La del elefante y la del éter, menos mal que te diste cuenta.
    Te ves bonita y elegante de enfermera y en la que estas con tus padres pareces modelo.
    El edificio es maravilloso, hoy se ve con mucho lujo, gracias por compartir pedacitos de tu vida, tan bella y rica.
    ♥♥♥Querida Amiga♥♥♥
    ♥Te deseo de todo corazón un♥
    ♥¡Feliz inicio de semana!♥
    ♥Abrazos y te dejo besitos♥

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  36. Good memories that will forever be kept in your heart.
    I loved seeing the old photos, especially the one of you in uniform.
    The architecture and interior of Arcoona Manor are so beautiful.

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  37. What an incredible story. It's amazing that you got to work in such a historic building, and it's even cooler to see what it looks like today. The stories you shared about the elephant and the ether are hilarious. It sounds like you had some unforgettable and funny moments there. It’s lovely to see the photos of you and your family from back then, too.

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  38. It's hard to believe this was once a hospital; it looks like a real residence. And the interiors are a true feast for the eyes. Stylish furniture and interiors frozen in time. Beautiful memories and extraordinary photos! I always enjoy viewing such archival memorabilia.

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