Step into the past with me. Right before you stands Building ET the Medical Superintendent’s Cottage. A beautiful sandstone Victorian Regency structure. This isn’t just any building. It’s a silent witness to a rich history. It played a vital role in Sydney’s medical and social landscape.
The cottage was built in 1867. It was designed by the talented Australian architect J Horbury Hunt. Initially it served as home to the Superintendents of the Asylum for Destitute Children. Imagine the lives that unfolded within these walls. The joys the sorrows the hopes and fears of those who lived and worked here.
Later the building transformed. It became a military hospital. Then a repatriation hospital during the early 20th century. It was a place of healing and recovery. A sanctuary for those wounded in war. It’s incredible to think of all the stories these stones have absorbed.
Eventually the complex passed into the ownership of Prince of Wales Hospital. Its purpose shifted once more. It now houses the Prince of Wales Hospital Cancer Survivorship Centre. It also houses the Sony Foundation’s Sydney ‘You Can’ Centre. It continues to support the community serving a very different population than in its earliest days.
The $2.4 million refurbishment was quite extensive. It included facade restoration and repairs to the sandstone verandahs and roofs. The renovations updated the buildings services. It also improved the interior including new bathrooms on both levels. A lift was even added for accessibility. This impressive renovation reflects the building’s ongoing importance to the community. The work demonstrates a strong commitment to preserving history while adapting it for modern needs. Work started in September 2018 and finished in the first half of 2019.
So as you stand here in front of Building ET the Medical Superintendent’s Cottage take a moment to reflect. Consider the countless lives that have been touched by this remarkable place. It is a lasting testament to Sydney’s resilience its compassion and its commitment to healing.