The first half of the twentieth century saw crippling childhood diseases – tuberculosis of the bones and joints, osteomyelitis and poliomyelitis – spread through communities. These diseases were highly contagious and left many children with permanent disability. The Children’s Hospital in Carlton did not have the capacity or resources to handle the influx of children needing long-term care due to these debilitating diseases.
Many medical staff at the hospital had served in the First World War and undertaken medical training in Europe. They witnessed the developments of orthopaedic and rehabilitation treatments used on returned soldiers and believed these new treatments could also benefit children.
One such treatment was heliotherapy (Helios is the sun god in ancient Greek mythology). Championed by Swiss doctor, Auguste Rollier, heliotherapy was designed to expose a patient to the healing powers of the sun and fresh air in a bid to kill bacteria, increase vitamin D levels and improve immune function. Special buildings, called sanatoriums, with long open-air balconies were constructed across Europe. Heliotherapy became a popular method of treating bone and joint diseases.
The Committee of Management raised funds to build an orthopaedic hospital dedicated to treating children suffering from orthopaedic disease. Opened in 1930 with 80 beds, The Children’s Orthopaedic Hospital in Mt Eliza was the crown jewel of the hospital due to its beautiful architecture and location, and would continue to be so for over 40 years. By the 1930s one third of hospital expenditure was on the treatment and after-care of ‘crippled’ children.
Treatment techniques included heliotherapy, physiotherapy and occupational therapy. The progressive philosophy behind these treatments led to the development of paediatric rehabilitation and Allied Health services. The mid 1950s saw major breakthroughs in vaccine research and development. The first polio vaccine was introduced to Australia in 1956 and by the 1960s vaccines prevented epidemics of infectious diseases from ravaging Victorian communities, dramatically reducing the disease burden on our population. By 1971 a hospital facility like Mt Eliza was no longer required and the remaining patients were transferred to the new Parkville hospital.
After the hospital closed down, the buildings were used for an aged care facility and then administration offices by Peninsula Health Council. In 2019 the site was sold to developers for $17.5 million.
Beachleigh House
Beachleigh House, which had a sea fronted twenty-acre site in Mt Eliza, was purchased by the Children’s Hospital in 1926.
Beachleigh Nurses Home
Beachleigh House was originally built as a family holiday home. When the hospital purchased the house and land, they decided to build a new hospital building next to the house and turn the house into nurses' accommodation.
The Children’s Orthopaedic Hospital, Mt Eliza
Facilities included a sea water hydrotherapy pool, gymnasium, physiotherapy department, craft hostel to learn vocational skills, classrooms, a kindergarten, tennis courts, landscaped gardens, chapel/mortuary and of course access to the beach.
The Children's Orthopaedic Hospital, Mt Eliza
On this site, Architects Stephenson, Turner & Meldrum designed an inter-war Mediterranean-style open ward hospital heavily influenced by European sanatoriums. The hospital had sweeping views of Canadian Bay.
Salt water hydrotherapy pool, 1934
The Children's Orthopaedic Hospital, Mt Eliza
Salt water hydrotherapy pool, circa 1934
The Children’s Orthopaedic Hospital, Mt Eliza
Patient and physiotherapist, circa 1938
Salt water hydrotherapy pool
The Children’s Orthopaedic Hospital, Mt Eliza.
Exercise session
Salt water hydrotherapy pool
The Children’s Orthopaedic Hospital, Mt Eliza.
Winifred Grimwade Hall
"The Winifred Grimwade Hall is a
dream which has come true through
the generosity of the very good friend
of the Hospital, General Grimwade,"
Captain Galbraith told an assembly of
more than a hundred people and many
small patients. "It was needed terribly badly as a place for meals, recreation and hobbies for the patients," he added. The large windows of the hall are designed to allow the maximum of sunlight to enter, and a stage is built at one end. Here patients of the hospital presented an especially attractive concert programme, one of the outstanding items being "Journey Round the World." - Standard Newspaper, Fri, 9 August 1940.
The craft hostel, circa 1937
In 1935 a craft hostel was built on the grounds of the orthopaedic hospital after a generous donation by Lord Nuffield and others. It was designed to teach vocational skills to disabled teenagers to transition them to paid work in the community.
The craft hostel, circa 1937
The woodworking workshop was set up for boys to learn skills.
The craft hostel, circa 1937
Girls learned domestic skills such as cleaning, cooking and sewing.
The Children’s Orthopaedic Hospital, Mt Eliza
Tennis courts and basketball courts allowed outside recreation.
The Children’s Orthopaedic Hospital, Mt Eliza
The chapel and mortuary are now heritage-listed.
Heliotherapy ward
Patients spent most of their time receiving heliotherapy treatment – positioned outside all year round on the long balconies, lying in bed strapped to boards, in plaster casts or calipers.
The Children’s Orthopaedic Hospital, Mt Eliza
This photo depicts the expansive grounds and buildings that made up the hospital.
Classroom on the ward
With an average stay of 12 months, patients often learnt to walk, read and write at the hospital. Parents were only allowed onsite every Sunday between 2 – 4 pm.
Dr John Colquhoun and Miss Ina Laidlaw
Scottish Orthopaedic Surgeon Dr John Colquhoun was appointed as the first Medical Superintendent and Miss Ina Laidlaw the position of Matron.
Nurses, circa 1940
Trainee nurses from Carlton were required to spend 3 months working at Mt Eliza. Many enjoyed the more relaxed atmosphere, fresh air and proximity to the beach. Nurses lived in the repurposed Beachleigh House.
Brownie and Scout Parade
Staff did their best to create a stimulating environment for the children. They hosted birthday parties, dress ups and visits from the Uncle Bobs Club, local pony club, Brownies and Scout clubs.
The Children’s Orthopaedic Hospital, Mt Eliza
There was never a shortage of visitors to the hospital. A seaplane lands in Canadian Bay.
The Children’s Orthopaedic Hospital, Mt Eliza
The track down from the hospital to Canadian Bay wasn't made accessible to children in trolleys and prams until the 1940s.
