Colonial Hospital Archaeology Display

Did the earth beneath the Colonial Hospital Archaeology Display tremble with the ghostly echoes of its past? This display unveils the captivating story of Sydney Hospital, Australia’s very first hospital. Its roots trace back to the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788. Initially a cluster of tents known as the “sick tents” at Dawes Point, it was Governor Lachlan Macquarie who envisioned its future in Macquarie Street. The hospital’s construction was funded by a rather unusual currency: rum. Contractors were granted a monopoly on rum sales in exchange for building the hospital. This earned it the nickname “The Rum Hospital” until 1881. Interestingly, the NSW State Parliament and the Mint now occupy the original east and west wings of this very “Rum Hospital”. The hospital’s history is intertwined with medical milestones. The first operating theatre in Australia, built in 1855, was located above the bath-house. This bath-house, erected in 1850, served the entire infirmary with just two baths. One can only imagine the conditions, especially in the sweltering Sydney summers. The original operating theatre even featured skylights, a cutting-edge design for its time, though now concealed above a modern ceiling. Excavations at the Colonial Hospital Archaeology Display unearthed remnants of the hospital’s medical past: medicine bottles, an irrigation syringe, and measuring glass fragments. These artifacts offer a glimpse into the rudimentary medical practices of the convict era, where only around 220 standard medicines were in use. The display reveals intriguing tales of medicine theft. Convicts working at the hospital would often steal medicines to sell them in town. One incident involved Thomas Lawson, charged with stealing medicines including 10 pounds of mercury. Even the overseer, William Wakeman, was dismissed for his involvement in consuming the “spirituous cordial Medicines”. The Colonial Hospital Archaeology Display provides a poignant connection to Sydney’s rich medical heritage. It offers a sobering reflection on the evolution of healthcare from its humble beginnings to the sophisticated medical practices of today.