“Credit and glory to God.” These words are etched into the Foundation Stone for St Vincent’s Xavier Building Plaque. This plaque marks a moment of dedication. It is a moment frozen in time.
We stand before the Foundation Stone for St Vincent’s Xavier Building Plaque. It is a silent witness to the evolution of care and compassion. This stone tells a story that stretches back decades.
The plaque itself is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. She is without original sin. The stone was blessed by Edward Myers. He was the Bishop Lamen. The dedication happened on October 17, 1933.
Back in the 1930s, this building was occupied by the Sisters of the Misericorde from 1868 to 1964. The Foundation Stone for St Vincent’s Xavier Building Plaque likely commemorates an extension. It might celebrate a similar significant addition to the building.
Later Paynter Dixon was appointed by St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney. They oversaw the design and construction. It was part of the St Vincent’s Darlinghurst Integrated Campus Redevelopment. This was the Priority Works Package.
The Priority Works had two separate areas in the Xavier Building. Level 4 saw the refurbishment of the existing Heart Lung Clinic. It now has a new treatment area. There are six treatment chairs and three beds. Eleven new consultation rooms were added. There is also a sub-waiting area and a refurbished reception.
Level 6 gained a new Intensive Care Unit Pod. It features four standard ICU bedrooms. These rooms can have negative airflow. There are two class N Isolation Rooms. Level 7 has a new Plant Room. This supports the new ICU Pod.
Construction was complex. The new ICU pod was built above a functioning ICU. The Heart Lung Clinic refurbishment was above the imaging department. MRI equipment operated seven days a week. Stakeholder management was vital. Communication with the hospital was integral. This minimised disruption.
The hospital runs parallel to Victoria Street. The ICU site is at the hospital’s midpoint. This limited street access for materials. A tower crane was erected on top of the lift shaft. This improved construction efficiency. It avoided manual materials handling delays.
St Vincent’s Hospital has a rich history. It was established in 1857 by five Irish Sisters of Charity. They aimed to help the poor and disadvantaged. Their early work included assisting victims of the 1853 influenza outbreak. They also aided families of prisoners in Darlinghurst Gaol. Three sisters were trained nurses from France. They brought their expertise to the colony.
St Vincent’s was the first Australian hospital to perform a heart transplant. This happened on October 23, 1968. The team was led by Harry Windsor. In 1982, Victor Chang conducted the first successful transplant.
St Vincent’s also played a crucial role during the AIDS epidemic. It was one of the first hospitals to treat AIDS patients in the early 1980s. The hospital pioneered the needle exchange program in 1986. This aimed to curb the spread of the virus among IV drug users.
The Foundation Stone for St Vincent’s Xavier Building Plaque is more than just a marker. It represents a legacy of care. It shows innovation and dedication to the community. It reminds us of the hospital’s ongoing mission.