Concord Repatriation General Hospital
Encyclopedia
Concord Repatriation General Hospital (abbreviated CRGH), commonly referred to as simply Concord Hospital, is a major hospital
in Sydney, Australia
, located on Hospital Road in Concord
. It is a teaching hospital of Sydney Medical School at the University of Sydney
, where it is referred to as Concord Clinical School, and a major facility in the Sydney Local Health District and the former Sydney South West Area Health Service
. The NSW Statewide Severe Burn Injury Service and the Bernie Banton
Centre, an asbestos diseases research institute, are located at CRGH.
Parts of the television series All Saints
were filmed at CRGH.
The current hospital was commissioned in 1939 as a general hospital for the Australian Army
. When completed in 1942, the 2000 bed Yaralla Military Hospital (113 Australian General Hospital) was the largest hospital in the Southern Hemisphere. The main hospital building (currently known as the Multi Building) was one of the tallest buildings in Sydney when completed and its design won architects Stephenson & Turner the Sulman Award in 1946. Following the war, the hospital became a repatriation hospital for returned servicemen under the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth government
, with a change in name to Repatriation General Hospital, Concord (RGHC). In 1963 RGHC became a teaching hospital of the University of Sydney
.
Recognising the growing community need, the hospital began providing care for general community patients in 1974, including the opening of an emergency department in 1977. In 1993, the hospital was transferred to the Central Sydney Area Health Service of the New South Wales
Department of Health as a public hospital and renamed to the current Concord Repatriation General Hospital.
, the hospital retains a historical significance to the veteran
s community in New South Wales. A number of memorials maintain these links, including:
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
in Sydney, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, located on Hospital Road in Concord
Concord, New South Wales
Concord is a suburb in the inner west of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located 15 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Canada Bay....
. It is a teaching hospital of Sydney Medical School at the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
, where it is referred to as Concord Clinical School, and a major facility in the Sydney Local Health District and the former Sydney South West Area Health Service
Sydney South West Area Health Service
Sydney South West Area Health Service, abbreviated SSWAHS and known by the corporate name Sydney South West Health, was an area health service charged with the provision of public health services in central and south-western Sydney...
. The NSW Statewide Severe Burn Injury Service and the Bernie Banton
Bernie Banton
Bernard Douglas Banton AM was an Australian social justice campaigner. He was the widely-recognised face of the legal and political campaign to achieve compensation for the many sufferers of asbestos-related conditions, which they contracted after working for the company James Hardie.Banton...
Centre, an asbestos diseases research institute, are located at CRGH.
Parts of the television series All Saints
All Saints (TV series)
All Saints is an Australian medical drama which first screened on the Seven Network. The series debuted on 24 February 1998 and concluded its run on 27 October 2009...
were filmed at CRGH.
History
Prior to the Second World War, the 16 hectare Yaralla Estate on which the hospital is built belonged to philanthropist Thomas Walker and subsequently his daughter Dame Eadith Walker. A small hospital had already been established on the site, known as the Thomas Walker Convalescent Hospital. Following the death of Dame Eadith in 1937, the property was bequeathed to the Crown for development as a public hospital.The current hospital was commissioned in 1939 as a general hospital for the Australian Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
. When completed in 1942, the 2000 bed Yaralla Military Hospital (113 Australian General Hospital) was the largest hospital in the Southern Hemisphere. The main hospital building (currently known as the Multi Building) was one of the tallest buildings in Sydney when completed and its design won architects Stephenson & Turner the Sulman Award in 1946. Following the war, the hospital became a repatriation hospital for returned servicemen under the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth government
Government of Australia
The Commonwealth of Australia is a federal constitutional monarchy under a parliamentary democracy. The Commonwealth of Australia was formed in 1901 as a result of an agreement among six self-governing British colonies, which became the six states...
, with a change in name to Repatriation General Hospital, Concord (RGHC). In 1963 RGHC became a teaching hospital of the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
.
Recognising the growing community need, the hospital began providing care for general community patients in 1974, including the opening of an emergency department in 1977. In 1993, the hospital was transferred to the Central Sydney Area Health Service of the New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
Department of Health as a public hospital and renamed to the current Concord Repatriation General Hospital.
Memorials
Although it is no longer under the jurisdiction of the Department of Veterans' AffairsDepartment of Veterans' Affairs (Australia)
The Department of Veterans' Affairs is an Australian Government department. Within its portfolio is:*Australian War Memorial*Military Rehabilitation & Compensation Commission*Office of Australian War Graves*Repatriation Commission...
, the hospital retains a historical significance to the veteran
Veteran
A veteran is a person who has had long service or experience in a particular occupation or field; " A veteran of ..."...
s community in New South Wales. A number of memorials maintain these links, including:
- Australian Hospital Ship CentaurAHS CentaurAustralian Hospital Ship Centaur was a hospital ship which was attacked and sunk by a Japanese submarine off the coast of Queensland, Australia, on 14 May 1943...
memorial, a stained-glass window adjacent to the main entrance of the hospital - Kokoda Track Memorial WalkwayKokoda Track Memorial WalkwayThe Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway is a memorial walking track located in the suburb of Concord West, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is located along the foreshore of shores of Brays Bay on the Parramatta River, and is a unique tribute to the Australian troops who fought in the World War II...
and memorial rose garden, forming the major part of the designated route for commuting to/from Rhodes railway station. - Anzac DayANZAC DayAnzac Day is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand, commemorated by both countries on 25 April every year to honour the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps who fought at Gallipoli in the Ottoman Empire during World War I. It now more broadly commemorates all...
remembrance services