Agency
Essendon and District Memorial Hospital
VA 1247
1964 - 1986
Agency names
Officially known as: Essendon and District Memorial Hospital
The Essendon and District Memorial Hospital was opened on 6 December 1964 with a 48-bed maternity wing on a five and a half acre site at the corner of York St & Holmes Rd, Moonee Ponds. The plans for its establishment originate in a 1945 request made by the Charities Board of Victoria (VA 2707) to the Essendon Council to consider establishing a hospital in honour of the men and women who served in World War II.
In April 1976, a second maternity wing with 18 beds was completed, followed by the construction of a 200-bed general hospital, completed in 1982.
In April 1982, the Health Commission (VA 652) suspended the commissioning and operation of the new Essendon and District Memorial Hospital. The general hospital sat idle for three years, and by August 1985 the hospital still had not been commissioned. However, maternity services continued in the older section of the hospital during this time, and by August 1985 the hospital still had not been commissioned. On the 22nd of August 1985, an enquiry was established by the Health Commission, which led to the determination that the hospital was to be amalgamated with the Royal Melbourne Hospital (VA 1048).
On 18 March 1986, the Essendon and District Memorial Hospital was amalgamated with the Royal Melbourne Hospital under the Hospital and Charities Act 1958 by the Govenor-in-Council to form the Amalgamated Melbourne and Essendon Hospitals (see Victoria Governent Gazette 16, 18 March 1986, page 673). The hospital would now operate across two campuses in Essendon and Parkville.
On 12 September 1989, the Amalgamated Melbourne and Essendon Hospitals’ name was changed to the Royal Melbourne Hospital (VA 1048) under Section 8(1)(c) of the Health Services Act 1988 (gazetted on 20 September 1989, Victoria Government Gazette G37, page 2427).
The Essendon campus provided a range of health care services including obstetrics, orthopaedic and ophthalmic elective day surgery and breast x-ray programs. Rehabilitation services were also established, providing physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology and a range of outpatient clinics.
In May 1993, inpatient maternity services at the Essendon campus were discontinued. By the end of 1998, services at the former Essendon and District Memorial Hospital site had been gradually phased out and the site was closed with acute and multiday surgery services relocated to the Royal Melbourne Hospital in Grattan Street, Parkville; rehabilitation services to North West Hospital (VA 5265) in Poplar Road, Parkville; and day surgery, clinics and dialysis services relocated to the Broadmeadows Health Service.
In April 1976, a second maternity wing with 18 beds was completed, followed by the construction of a 200-bed general hospital, completed in 1982.
In April 1982, the Health Commission (VA 652) suspended the commissioning and operation of the new Essendon and District Memorial Hospital. The general hospital sat idle for three years, and by August 1985 the hospital still had not been commissioned. However, maternity services continued in the older section of the hospital during this time, and by August 1985 the hospital still had not been commissioned. On the 22nd of August 1985, an enquiry was established by the Health Commission, which led to the determination that the hospital was to be amalgamated with the Royal Melbourne Hospital (VA 1048).
On 18 March 1986, the Essendon and District Memorial Hospital was amalgamated with the Royal Melbourne Hospital under the Hospital and Charities Act 1958 by the Govenor-in-Council to form the Amalgamated Melbourne and Essendon Hospitals (see Victoria Governent Gazette 16, 18 March 1986, page 673). The hospital would now operate across two campuses in Essendon and Parkville.
On 12 September 1989, the Amalgamated Melbourne and Essendon Hospitals’ name was changed to the Royal Melbourne Hospital (VA 1048) under Section 8(1)(c) of the Health Services Act 1988 (gazetted on 20 September 1989, Victoria Government Gazette G37, page 2427).
The Essendon campus provided a range of health care services including obstetrics, orthopaedic and ophthalmic elective day surgery and breast x-ray programs. Rehabilitation services were also established, providing physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology and a range of outpatient clinics.
In May 1993, inpatient maternity services at the Essendon campus were discontinued. By the end of 1998, services at the former Essendon and District Memorial Hospital site had been gradually phased out and the site was closed with acute and multiday surgery services relocated to the Royal Melbourne Hospital in Grattan Street, Parkville; rehabilitation services to North West Hospital (VA 5265) in Poplar Road, Parkville; and day surgery, clinics and dialysis services relocated to the Broadmeadows Health Service.
Jurisdiction: Victoria
