The Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital has been a well-known presence on the landscape of Sydney’s upper north shore for nearly 90 years, providing care for over 300,000 people living in the Hornsby and Ku-ring-gai area. Today, more than 40,000 people go through the doors of the Hospital’s Emergency Department whilst more than 1,200 babies are born each year in its maternity wards. But how did it all begin?
The Hospital first opened to the public on August 26, 1933. On its opening, hundreds of people gathered out the front in celebration. It had been a tireless fifteen-year campaign by the local community to raise money for the hospital to be built. The original hospital had facilities accommodating 38 inpatients and was constructed at a cost of £25000 pounds. It was a singular building designed as a ‘double Y’ shape.
The original hospital was to be built at Hornsby Heights. However, after consideration of the land that had been acquired, planners sought for a larger location. Local councillor, Thomas Rofe, donated land located on Palmerston Road, Hornsby which is where the hospital remains to this day. The land that had been earmarked for the hospital in Hornsby Heights was not sold and instead became Rofe Park, in honour of Mr Rofe’s contribution.
In 1935, more than a third of the Hospital was destroyed in a fire. The hospital was rebuilt with the addition of a further twelve beds.
In 1971, the Lumby Building was opened in honour of George Lumby, a respected local businessman who had been a financial contributor to the Hospital. It became the main building for the Hospital and is known for its circular design which formed the Hospital’s emblem.
Over the years, the hospital has also been a familiar sight on the small screen. It featured in episodes of ‘Sons and Daughters’ throughout the 1980s as well as ‘All Saints’ during the late 1990s and 2000s.
However, in the early 2000s, it became evident that the hospital was in need of a major upgrade. Whilst a new Emergency Department was built in 2005, there was still so much work to be done to bring the hospital into the 21st century.
Local vascular surgeon, Dr Richard Harris, led the charge for a new hospital as chairman of the medical staff council. When elected to the role, Dr Harris wrote to all 130 specialist doctors to enquire about what the Hospital needed. The overwhelming response was a new hospital.
Consequently, Dr Harris and his team petitioned both the state and federal governments for funding to make these wishes become a reality. Initially, the state government provided $120 million before providing a further $265 million.
Over the last few years, the redevelopment of the Hospital has progressively occurred.
Stage one of the redevelopment, completed in 2016, saw the construction of a new clinical and support services space called the STAR building.
“We have got a brand-new ICU which is just amazing,” Dr Harris says.
“It has gone from this horrible thing where you had water dripping through lightbulbs to really being chalk and cheese now.”
Stage two of the redevelopment, due for completion later this year, will see a refurbished and expanded Emergency Department as well as a new Clinical Services Building.
With the impending completion of its facelift, the Hospital will be able to continue to provide the local community with highest quality medical care in state-of-the-art facilities.
