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 photo is of me, Mum and Dad plus my MGB taken about 1967 or 8.
Below is how Arcoona Manor is today.
Deloraine is west of Launceston about 35 minutes drive. Dotted in red on the map.
Hi Margaret, what a lovely place 😊 Your photos are beautiful and I appreciate ❤️ and enjoyed this amazing tour.
ReplyDeleteThank you Linda.
DeleteIt'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.
ReplyDeleteI don't often say much about myself Marit, just ever now and then I do.
DeleteThank you.
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.
ReplyDeleteAlways good to remember the funny things that happen in ones life, Asep.
DeleteA wonderful memory!
ReplyDeleteThat's for sure Anne. They were good days.
DeleteA wonderful memory! I love the picture of you in uniform.
ReplyDeleteThank you Angie. I only have a couple of photos in my uniform, no camera in those days.
DeleteI love the pictures. That uniform hat is really something.
ReplyDeleteThanks 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!
DeleteI enjoyed the beautiful architecture of Arcoona manor. I also like the lovely forniture.
ReplyDeleteNice photo of you wearing the uniform.
Great post, today.
Thank you. Arcoona Manor is a beautiful building and it's good for me to see it refurbished to its former glory.
DeleteGreat memories and old photos to tell your story. What a beautiful manor that is. Have a nice day.
ReplyDeleteOh yes Bill, good memories and I've been wondering how many babies were born at Arcoona.
DeleteIt looks very grand. No doubt you have many memories apart from the elephant on the road!
ReplyDeleteOh gosh yes David, many wonderful memories from those days.
DeleteWonderful memories,
ReplyDeleteyour photos are excellent,
old and new!!
How beautiful they are preserving the building!!
Oh it's just wonderful the Arcoona was restored to its formal glory, love that.
DeleteWhat a wonderful mix of fond memories, close calls, and colourful moments from your time at that charming old hospital.
ReplyDeleteOh it was fun times back then at the hospital, Arcoona, we were one big happy family.
DeleteSeguramente recordarás con nostalgia esa época.
ReplyDeleteThat's for sure, Norma.
DeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteThe 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.
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.
DeleteGorgeous 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.
WOnderful old building! Great post!
ReplyDeleteThanks Bill.
DeleteArcoona 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.
ReplyDeleteYou and I must be the same age :) My dresses were the same as yours in 1967-8.
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.
DeleteI have an idea I'm a few years older than you.
It's a beautiful house. I'm glad you noticed the ether bottle was open.
ReplyDeleteHa! So was I R. A funny situation and the staff and patients did laugh when I told them. It made their day for memory.
DeleteHow fascinating it would be to own such a beautiful property! Priceless memories. You look cute in the uniform. Have a wonderful weekend. :) Hugs.
ReplyDeleteWould be lovely to own but a lot of work.
DeleteThank you.
Always nice to travel back in time and renew memories ... Nice pics.
ReplyDelete(My latest post: Kerala in monsoon: A road trip)
It sure is.
DeleteSchöne Bilder von einem Haus das in der Vergangenheit eine andere Bedeutung hatte.
ReplyDeleteGruß
Noke
It did have a different meaning in the past, very different.
DeleteO éter, como você diz no texto, entorpece, mesmo.
ReplyDeleteMuito bom seu blog.
Thank you.
DeleteIt'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.
ReplyDeleteBoth 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.
DeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteAlways good to have a fun story and share it if possible.
DeleteMany thanks for sharing fun stories and memories and your photographs too.
ReplyDeleteIt does look a beautiful house.
All the best Jan
It is a beautiful house Jan, it was a pleasure to have worked in it and to see it now is just awesome.
DeleteThank you ever so Margaret, I enjoyed your memories of this beautiful building very much. The two photos of you were lovely!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Denise, always good to have a laugh at myself for me.
DeleteImpressive - very Poomie like.
ReplyDeleteLord 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
I reckon Lord Grantham would approve for it to be one of their cottages, maybe.
DeleteYes, we need rain so send it down.
I bet your waters are warmer than ours.
You can have our rain - it has poured here for 3 days now.
DeleteWeb feet for all.
The beach is deserted. The cleaners are really kept busy with the
mess being washed in.
Cheers
The FROZEN one!!!!
Beautiful images, lovely memories, and anecdotes that will remain in our memories.
ReplyDeleteBest regards
Those days will remain with me forever, as many others do too.
DeleteThank you.
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.
ReplyDeleteThe 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.
DeleteWas this a religious order? I see the nun uniform.
ReplyDeleteNo John, nothing to do with religion. The uniform I'm wearing is one of a Registered Nurse back in the day. :)
DeleteWow 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.
ReplyDeleteThat's good re your friend.
DeleteIt is a beautiful place restored to it's former glory, I guess, Diane.
What a wonderful tour!! Beautiful...
ReplyDeleteI had a 1969 MG and LOVED ot! It was red... black vinyl top.
hugs
Donna
Welcome to the MGB club then Donna! Our ended up being red too but I can't find the photo of it.
DeleteEl edificio se ve precioso. Me encantó saber de tus recuerdos, tus fotografías son preciosas. Muchos besos.
ReplyDeleteThank you Teresa.
DeleteImagens muito bonitas que mostram o velho prédio num belíssimo estado de conservação.
ReplyDeleteCntinuação de boa semana.
Abraço de amizade.
Juvenal Nunes
Thank you.
DeleteUn excelente trabajo este que nos has documentado y presentado.
ReplyDeleteThank you Ildefonso.
DeleteAmazing how it has transformed! I love the story behind it. I used to work in a hospital too.
ReplyDeleteOh you did! Thanks.
DeleteGorgeous !! And Love The Photos From The Nineteen Hundreds
ReplyDeleteBig Hugs ,
Cheers
Thanks.
DeleteSuch lovely post dear Margaret 🤗🥰♥️
ReplyDeleteTravelling 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 🥰♥️🙏
Thank you Baili.
DeleteQuerida amiga, preciosa documentación nos dejas, me encantó tu historia.
ReplyDeleteLa 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♥
Thank you Liz.
DeleteGood memories that will forever be kept in your heart.
ReplyDeleteI loved seeing the old photos, especially the one of you in uniform.
The architecture and interior of Arcoona Manor are so beautiful.
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.
ReplyDeleteIt'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.
ReplyDelete