Our History
– 150 years of history at The Royal Children’s Hospital –
A concise and chronological record of the rich and diverse 150-year history of The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH).
Please feel free to scroll through all 150 years or easily filter information via categories or tags.
The historical images have been sourced from the RCH Archives and Collections, unless stated otherwise.
Images have been chosen to illustrate the subject matter and may not necessarily reflect the date of the event.
The RCH has produced such an immense amount of groundbreaking achievements and we cannot assume to have captured them all here.
Do you think an achievement, person, or event is missing? Please send your suggestion to: archives@rch.org.au. We hope you enjoy exploring!
1874
Measles Epidemic
1874-1875
1875
Scarlet Fever Epidemic
1875 - 1876
1878
Nursing Reform
Organised training of nurses and formal nurse uniforms were introduced.
1893
Australian Financial Crisis
Steep pay cuts for hospital staff.
Change to the Infectious Diseases Policy
Diphtheria and scarlet fever patients were treated as outpatients - they had previously been refused care due to risk of contagion.
1895
Diphtheria Epidemic
July 1895
1901
Cerebro-spinal Meningitis Epidemic
1903
Babies Admitted to the Hospital for the First Time
Later, in 1921, a specialised babies’ ward was established.
1908
Poliomyelitis Epidemic
1914
Beginning of the First World War
July 28th, 1914
Male Doctors Join the Army
As a result, a more diverse representation of doctors were able to find employment at the Children’s. Women such as Dr Vera Scantlebury, Dr Ellice Davies, Dr Annie Bennett, Dr Bertha Donaldson, and Dr Annie Windmill joined the hospital as residents.
1915
Cerebro-spinal Meningitis Epidemic
1918
Influenza Pandemic
1918-1920
By 1919 the 'Spanish Flu' hit peak case numbers in Australia and tens of thousands of lives were lost.
Increase in Physiotherapy Treatments
A polio epidemic in Victoria saw a need for the hospital to hire more physiotherapists, further solidifying the role of physiotherapy as a key aspect for after-care of patients.
Change in Working Conditions
After protests, the regular working week for nurses was reduced to 56 hours a week.
Image credit: PROV, VA 1239 The Royal Children's Hospital, VPRS 16800/P1 Rose Vaughan's Note Book, Unit 1 Rose Vaughan's Note Book November 1886 and October 1905. Digitised copy.
End of the First World War
November 11th, 1918
Returned Servicemen Are Given Preference for Employment
Nearly every new resident employed was a former soldier and women who had held doctor and surgeon positions during the war were put at a disadvantage.
1925
1929
The Great Depression
August 1929 - March 1933
Widespread hardship led to a rise in demand for the hospital’s services and lessening of public contributions. The committee deferred requests for new equipment due to lack of financial resources.
1937
Polio Epidemic
1937 - 1938
There was a rise of poliomyelitis cases in the years between wars. Case numbers had a significant impact on the hospital’s services.
1939
Beginning of the Second World War
September 1st, 1939
1942
Change to Admissions Criteria
The hospital began to admit all children irrespective of their family’s financial situation.
1943
1945
End of the Second World War
September 2nd, 1945
Influx of Immigrant Families After the War
Late 1940s – early 1950s
Many children arriving from Europe with their families were suffering poor health from the journey and long-term malnutrition during the war. The hospital responded as best as it could, often relying on maids as interpreters.
1952
First Male Trainee Nurse
Approved as a training school for male nurses in 1946, it wasn’t until 1952 that the nursing school received an application from a man.
1956
Television Broadcasting in Australia Commenced
September 16th, 1956
Australian broadcasting began and television sets were placed in the wards for the patients’ entertainment.
1975
Medibank
July 1st, 1975
Commonwealth-funded health insurance scheme implemented. It was subject to many changes in subsequent fluctuating political climates.
1984
Medicare Introduced
Hawke government legislation reinstated universal health care.
1986
Victorian Nurses’ Strike
The hospital’s paediatric nurses are among the few statewide who remained ‘on the job’.
1991
Debt Crisis
The hospital was forced to dispose of assets and impose financial restrictions. Around 350 staff were cut.
1998
First National Sorry Day
May 26th, 1998
Image credit: Janelle Jakowenko
2005
Indonesian Tsunami Recovery
RCH International entered into an agreement with World Vision Australia to assist the Indonesian government in the recovery from the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami.
2009
Black Saturday Bushfires
February 7th, 2009
Tragically, one hundred and seventy-three people in Victoria lost their lives.
2020
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic
150th Anniversary Since Foundation
The hospital celebrates 150 years of great care for Victorian children.
Image credit: Alvin Aquino
