History

A Provisional Committee was established in 1945 to raise 15,000 pounds toward the construction of a 30 bed public hospital in Numurkah. The work of the Provisional Committee continued for a number of years and in 1947, land (upon which the present Hospital is situated) was donated by the Moss, Trengrove and Holmes families. In 1951, plans were drawn up for the construction of a two storey building designed to accommodate 50 beds with the provision to expand to 70. These bed numbers were calculated on the basis of a 9 beds to 1000 population ratio utilised as the planning guideline of the period. Around the same time, the Provisional Committee had purchased the Penzance Private Hospital for 5,200 pounds to provide hospital services to the community. In 1955, all works not in progress on hospitals throughout Victoria were put on hold pending the outcome of a Government enquiry into the needs for hospital services. As a result, the nurses’ home which had been constructed on the new site at Numurkah was refurbished to become a 17 bed hospital ward. The 16 bed ward which remained at the Penzance site was utilised as a midwifery ward. In this same year, the Provisional Committee was incorporated to become the first Committee of Management of the Hospital. On the 13th April, 1957, the Hospital was officially opened by Dr. E.E. Dunlop.

Catherine ‘Katie’ Walsh, one of Numurkah’s pioneer women, lived just out of the township, on her own after the death of her sister.   She could not read or write, signing her name only with an X. She was nursed for 12 months at the Numurkah Hospital, where she died in 1957, aged 75. She had initially left the bulk of her Estate to the Hospital, but had recently changed her Will leaving her estate to Church charities instead.  As the document was not witnessed correctly the will was declared invalid by Probate officials for want of due execution. The Numurkah Hospital therefore received the £8,200 legacy and together with a Government grant built the Catherine Walsh Wing, doubling the size of the Hospital.    

The Numurkah Pioneers Memorial Lodge was opened by the then Governor of Victoria, Sir Henry Winneke, on Friday 27th August 1976.  The opening signalled the completion of a project which commenced in the mid 60’s. Early 1967, the Hospital Committee began to investigate the feasibility of such a project at a public meeting called in 1969, it was decided that a hostel for the elderly was necessary in Numurkah. After a great deal of ground work, the first Provisional committee was formed on the 31st July 1972.  At the same time, an appeal was launched for $70,000. Tenders were called in May 1974.  However when prices were tendered, it was evident that inflation had made it impossible to proceed with the amount raised and the project was deferred in the hope that a subsidy rate would be reviewed by the Government. A deputation travelled to Canberra to meet the then Social Security Minister, Mr Bill Hayden.  They were met with a favourable reception and two months later, the federal government announced it would increase the subsidies. Grants for the project totalled $494,000 (which the Nathalia Hospital Committee was interested in the project and added extra money too). In keeping with the name Pioneers Lodge, the Hostel was designed along the lines of the early homestead with wings leading off from a central area and with verandahs enclosing each wing.

The name ‘Baala’ has been identified with the Numurkah District since the early days of settlement, as the local creek was always known as Baala Creek (now Broken Creek).  All the old maps carry the name, and the name was constantly in the news because of the district’s dependence on Baala Creek for water. It is believed that Baala was a local aboriginal term to describe ‘water’, and in particular ‘where two waters meet’. 1982 saw the construction of Numurkah’s first aged care facility, Baala House.  It provided 20 high care beds for the aged. The main goal was for the residents of Baala House to feel really needed and to feel that they had a home away from home.  

In 1990 a 10 bed extension was completed, which further enhanced the privacy and flexibility in the placement of residents as a result of the single and two bed ward layout. A feature of the extension waa the large activities area which included a small kitchen specially designed to encourage participation by people confined in wheelchairs. In 2007 the building was demolished and a modern new facility was built, renamed Karinya Nursing Home.

Early in 1996 Mrs Rosie Morris was appointed to the position of Community Health Nurse and was our first Community Health Nurse, she was busy developing appropriate programmes to be implemented when the new Centre was available for occupation and use. In May 1996 site works commenced for the construction of a Community Health Centre. The Community Health Centre when initially established, offered services such as: Diabetes Education Service Womens Health Nurse Dietician Occupational Therapy Physiotherapy Podiatry – Footcare Social and Support Workers These services provided the local community the opportunity to access much needed services whilst remaining in their own town without having to travel.  It provided employment for many health care professionals who prefer to be employed within a small community environment.

In October 2005 a new addition to the Community Health Centre was completed providing additional space for allied health practitioners and their programs.

Karinya Nursing Home under construction A modern new facility was built in 2005, renamed Karinya Nursing Home.  A major benefit was that each resident now had their own private room and bathroom.  This building is still in use today.   Support Services Building which houses the Hospital Kitchen, Staff Dining Room, Toilets, Laundry and Supply Department

With the Numurkah (and region) flood event in 2012, many of the hospital buildings were impacted and unusable. A Temporary Urgent Care Centre was erected (tents) and opened on 19 March 2012 a couple of weeks after the floods. On 30th October 2012 an Interim Urgent Care Centre was opened.    

Urgent Care Centres at Numurkah in 2012

This sign which was at the front of the hospital until the building was demolished in 2013 (as the site was flooded in the 2012 Numurkah (and region flood event)).   The sign has recently been taken out of storage, restored and is now on display as part of the Memorial Wall which was unveiled in March 2025.   As mentioned in the 37th Annual Report 1991/2 – Following consultation between staff and Board members, a logo to represent the Hospital has now been decided upon.  Four options were presented to the Board of Management and Hospital staff members, and a unanimous decision was reached for a design (as shown above) jointly submitted by Mrs Kerry Swann and Mr Philip Harper.