The First Newtown Hospital
Work on the new hospital commenced in 1876, using prison labour. The prisoners were marched each day from the Terrace gaol to Newtown. The bricks were made on site from excavated clay, using a specially imported American machine. It was estimated that in the two years 1877 and 1878, some 4 million bricks were produced for the building. After the brickwork came the plastering, completion of which was delayed because of a shortage of plasterers. Some had to be brought across from Victoria, Australia. The hospital opened in 1881. A Hospital Ball was held to mark the opening on 20 June, and patients were transferred from the Thorndon Hospital between 27 June and 12 July. This photo was taken in 1885 Click the image to view detail in a larger version.
	photograph courtesy Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of NZ, Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa

The First Newtown Hospital

Work on the new hospital commenced in 1876, using prison labour. The prisoners were marched each day from the Terrace gaol to Newtown. The bricks were made on site from excavated clay, using a specially imported American machine. It was estimated that in the two years 1877 and 1878, some 4 million bricks were produced for the building. After the brickwork came the plastering, completion of which was delayed because of a shortage of plasterers. Some had to be brought across from Victoria, Australia.

The hospital opened in 1881. A Hospital Ball
was held to mark the opening on 20 June, and patients were transferred from the Thorndon Hospital between 27 June and 12 July.

This photo was taken in 1885

Click the image to view detail in a larger version.

photograph courtesy
Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of NZ, Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa