News and Events

Progress with the Museum Building refurbishment
We are delighted to report on progress which is now being made on the refurbishment of our new museum building. Member for Rockhampton Robert Schwarten has announced $60,000 of Q150 funding will go to finishing the refurbishment of the Australian Country Hospital Museum at the Rockhampton Heritage Village. Mr Schwarten said he was pleased to be able to provide the much needed funding for the museum building, which was formerly the Mount Morgan Hospital nurses' quarters.

“Q150 is a chance to celebrate our rich and varied history and for the Australian Country Hospital Museum to benefit from that funding is just a perfect fit,” Mr Schwarten said. “The funding will allow the hard working people of the Australian Country Hospital Heritage Association to finish off the job they started so admirably several years ago.” “Electrical, plumbing, carpentry and internal painting works will be done to modify and refurbish the former nurses quarters up to the standard it needs to be for a museum.”

Mr Schwarten said there was a touch of irony that the Australian Country Hospital Museum was getting funding through Q150, which was set up to celebrate Queensland's independence from New South Wales. “Among the Museum's vast collection of memorabilia and artefacts are hospital records that go back to 1858, when Rockhampton was still part of New South Wales.”

The fact was not lost on the President of the Australian Country Hospital Heritage Association Yvonne Kelley. “Well I think it is meant to be,” Mrs Kelley said. “We are over the moon to have received this funding and thank Robert Schwarten for helping make it happen,” she said.

Meanwhile, volunteer painters at the Rockhampton Heritage Village are overseeing the painitng of the exterior of the building with the aid of funding from the Commonwealth Work for the Dole scheme. The refurbishment of the Australian Country Hospital Museum is now scheduled for completion by mid-June at which time the Association will commence the task of setting up the displays.

The photograph above shows the Hon Robert Schwarten MLA, Minister for Works, Housing and Information & Communication Technology (2nd from left) with ACHHA Executive Members Norma West, Vice-President (Left), Errol Payne, Secretary, Kay Smith, Treasurer and Yvonne Kelley, President.