The hospital is the designated statewide major trauma centre for paediatrics in Victoria and a Nationally Funded Centre for cardiac and liver transplantation.Its campus partners are the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute and The University of Melbourne Department of Paediatrics, which are based onsite with the hospital.The hospital is surrounded by the parkland of Royal Park, with views of trees and lots of natural light.
The hospital was established in 1870 and moved to its present site in Parkville on the corner of Flemington Road and Gatehouse Street in 1963. The Royal Children's Hospital was founded by Doctors John Singleton and William Smith, in response to their serious concerns about infant mortality in the fledgling city of Melbourne. The original "Free Hospital for Sick Children" was set up in a small house at 39 Stephen Street (now 49 Exhibition Street) and treated more than 1,000 children in its first year of operation.
In 2005, the Victorian State Government announced plans to build a brand new 334-bed home for RCH adjacent to the current site. The winning bid of the redevelopment is led by Babcock & Brown with architects Billard Leece Partnership and Bates Smart Architects. HKS Inc. Architects of Dallas, Texas provided Paediatric Design and Planning Services and consulting engineers Norman Disney & Young.
Work commenced on the site in late 2007, and was complete in late 2011, opened by the Queen on her Royal Tour. The current hospital will be demolished by 2014 after the transition to the new facility. Patients were moved into the new hospital in November 2011. After the move, much of the old site will be turned into a park, creating a new gateway to Royal Park.
This post is part of the Signs, Signs meme,
And also part of the Things in a Row meme.
No wonder it is called the Royal .... , unbelievable interior decoration and space. Now I know why almost all my colleagues have migrated to Australia. An exceptional facility !
ReplyDeleteThis is WONDERFUL! it looks nothing like a hospital. I might even almost look forward to going here.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Lesley and Wong!! What an awesome place and particularly for a hospital! I'm another one that just might look forward to going there!! Never seen any hospital come even close to this and Royal is the perfect name! Terrific captures, Nick!!
ReplyDeleteI agree too. That looks almost like a museum. Nice.
ReplyDeleteThis is a marvelous place. I know it had to be costly to design and build, but hopefully it will last a long time - the design is gorgeous! If a child has to be in hospital, this would certainly help soften that blow!
ReplyDeleteSeriously, this is not a hospital. Looks like kids amusement centre
ReplyDeleteI would never imagine that this was a hospital. Very impressive.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful place and those chocolate biscuits seats look yummy!
ReplyDeleteAnna :o]
I really love these attractive statues. What a cool building!
ReplyDeleteit's a wonderful place to amuse kids when they probably most need it!
ReplyDeleteMy goodness Nick, hospitals have come a long way. I have never been inside the Royal Childrens Hospital. It is so colorful and vibrant. A fabulous insight. I have just returned from holidays in Byron Bay and am excited to be posting a photo a day from this wonderful part of our country over at my blog. Cheers J.
ReplyDeleteWow -- if your child has to be sick, that would be the perfect place to be. Also cheering for the parents.
ReplyDeleteA very beautiful and colorful hospital I've every seen, has a great design and so interesting there to visit. thanks for sharing this to us.
ReplyDeleteHospital Architects