Anyone visiting a hospital collection or viewing a set of historic photographs such as those which appear on this website cannot help but be amazed by the changes which have occurred in nurses' uniforms over the past one hundred and fifty years. It must be remembered that Florence Nightingale's pioneering work during the Crimean War which is seen as laying the foundation for the modern profession of nursing was undertaken in 1854. This is just prior to the establishment of the first Rockhampton Hospital in 1857.
The image at left from the ACHHA collection showing nurses in uniform having afternoon tea at the Rockhampton Hospital in early 1900 is particularly striking.
The Association's collection commenced with a uniform worn by Nurse Elsie Crudgington whilst on duty at the Rockhampton Hospital in 1918. The uniform was donated to the Australian Country Hospital Heritage Association by her brother, Albert Crudgington, in 1979. The original uniform which Elsie is wearing in the photograph at right includes dress, apron, belt, collar, cuffs and cap. When presented to the Association, the cap was still pinned ready to wear.
The ACHHA collection includes original uniforms worn by students and registered nurses at the Rockhampton Hospital between 1918 and 1995 when the last student group completed hospital based training. The collection also includes replica uniforms covering the period from 1850 to 1915.
