“Willow Grove”, 34 Phillip St, Parramatta (2013)
Locals may be aware that ‘Willow Grove’ was once a private hospital known as ‘Estella’ or ‘Nurse Davidson’s Private Hospital’ but we thought others may be interested in the background of this heritage listed building nestled in the heart of Parramatta City.
Originally built as a private home sometime between 1870 and 1880, it was a private hospital, then a Telecom office and is now a commercial building owned by Forever Living Products.This Victorian Italianate house was registered as a private hospital known as “Estella” when a Mrs E.E. Davidson, a matron and midwife purchased the property in 1919.1 This was the same year the world-wide pandemic of influenza struck Sydney and Parramatta.When Estella Private Hospital opened there were 129 private ‘lying-in’ (or maternity) hospitals recorded in Sydney in 1920. The majority were run by trained midwives forming a private maternity hospital system in New South Wales. The Private Hospital Act of 1908 made provision for annual licencing and regular inspection of hospitals to improve standards for midwifery care and the gradual elimination of untrained staff among the hard work of the Australasian Trained Nurses Association.2
Based on the public family notices about Estella (below) we can tell that Mrs Davidson was a trained nurse as her professional title given was ‘Sister’. In addition, the mention of doctors (Dr. Whiting and Dr. Waugh) signifies that beside ‘lying-in’ care, medical and surgical care may also have been available.
In 1923 advertisements for Estella Private Hospital reveal that it underwent a name change to Westcourt Private Hospital and that it had a telephone number U8503.
Again in 1925, the name was changed to “Aloha” and it continued to operate as a nursing facility until 1952 when the property was subdivided and sold by then owner Sister Frances Amy Thompson.3
The property’s Parramatta River frontage (located at the rear of the house) was sold to Parramatta City Council to create a car park and open space. The remainder of the property was sold and given to the Post Master General’s (PMG) Department (renamed the Australian Telecommunications Commission in 1975) as an Telecom office on 31 March 1953.[4]
In 1994 the property was brought by US-based company Forever Living Products owner Rex Maughan, who renovated, restored and continues to operate from Willow Grove. In June 2015, the property was purchased by Parramatta City Council.
Anne Tsang, Research Assistant, Parramatta Heritage Centre 2013 (updated 2017)
References
1. Office of Environment & Heritage. (n.d.). Willow Grove and potential archaeological site. Retrieved October 4, 2013 from http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/heritageapp/ViewHeritageItemDetails.aspx?ID=2240440
2. Adcock, Winifred & N.S.W. Midwives Association (1984).With courage and devotion: a history of midwifery in New South Wales. Marrickville, N.S.W.: Southwood Press, 1984.
3. ‘History’, Conservation strategy for the reconstruction and adaption of ‘Willow Grove’: 34 Phillip Street, Parramatta, NSW. (n.d.). Parramatta, NSW : Order Architects Pty Ltd & Order Interiors Pty Ltd. pp. 4-5.
4. History of ‘Willow Grove’: 34 Phillip Street, Parramatta. (n.d.). Parramatta, NSW : Parramatta Heritage Centre. ‘Willow Grove’ Vertical File.
Would like to know if records of births and deaths for this hospital in 1952 are available and accessible. Thank You
Not sure most likely the records would be now stored at Kingswood Record Office.
Contact them via
http://www.records.nsw.gov.au/
My mother, Marie Josephine White nee Charles died last week, April 10, 2015. She was born at ‘Estella’ on September 24, 1922.
My mother was also born at Westcourt in March 1925. On her birth certificate the name of Sister West was listed as the witness.
Mum’s family lived just down the road at 44 Phillip Street, but as they were quite poor and she was the seventh child I can only believe that the fees for this “private hospital” could not have been very high.
The place was definitely operating as a private hospital in 1919 as my mother’s youngest brother was born there on 8 September, 1919. His birth certificate provides a description of the place as Nurse Davidson’s Private Hospital, Phillip Street, Parramatta.
Thanks for the additional information, Robert.
Research & Collection Services.
I was born at Aloha on 30th April 1952, I believe I was one of the last babies to be born there. Witnesses on my birth certificate were Dr Erby and Matron Thompson. My elder sister, Cheryl also was born at Aloha in 1st July 1945.Several of my cousins also were born there.