Daw House Hospice, Repatriation General Hospital, Daw Park, South Australia

            The Repatriation General Hospital is South Australian Heritage Registered.

The Repatriation General Hospital has a significant association with an international event of profound historical importance to the South Australian community: World War Two. The outbreak of World War Two created an immediate need for more hospital beds. In June 1940 the South Australian State Cabinet approved the construction of a new 880 bed military hospital for injured soldiers and a site near the corner of Daws Road and Goodwood Road was chosen and resumed under wartime emergency regulations: the 105 Australian Military Hospital (105 AMH) was formed on 10 June 1941.

The essence of the original layout of the site is still discernible in the symmetrical arrangement of the central buildings on the north-south axis, with the original wards to its east. The site is still characterised by comparatively low-scale development interspersed with well-maintained gardens. The surviving wartime buildings and structures, together with later items of a commemorative nature such as the Peace Garden, act as reference points for the unique history of the place.

The Repat has a strong and ongoing cultural association with veterans who served in World War Two and subsequent conflicts: strong links with the Returned and Services Leagues and other ex-service organisations. This association is obvious in the physical fabric and the culture of the place by reference to wartime experience (various memorials, naming of wards etc. and in the corporate identity promoted by the Hospital).

There are numerous other references to the connections with military history on the site including the naming of wards after battles, chapel windows, remembrance ceremonies and the museum. 

Purpose built, the Repat is well-preserved and representative of a particular class of South Australian public buildings completed during and after World War Two. Wartime restrictions on materials limited new construction to only essential buildings, and in many cases these were of a temporary nature (many of the original buildings on the hospital site were timber and iron construction, of which the former post office building is probably the sole survivor). The Repat main buildings were conceived and built as substantially as they were as part of planning for it to become a repatriation hospital after the end of the war. 

Many veterans and their families have maintained a close association with the Repat since the war years. It has fostered this special relationship with its primary client group through development of medical and surgical specialities appropriate to their needs, along with targeted social services such as the Vietnam Veterans Counselling Service and the position of Veterans’ Advisor.
Evidence of the high value placed on the hospital by the contemporary veteran community is observable in its sustained resistance to proposals in recent years to remove high level services from the Repat and redirect veterans to other public hospitals for certain treatments.

The site has The Schools’ Patriotic Fund Hall, demonstrating the contribution of civilians to the war effort and the support of veterans. It was built using funds raised by The Schools Patriotic Fund and the Red Cross for the benefit of patients and was opened in August 1943. During the war the hall was a venue for theatrical performances, concerts and films for the entertainment of inpatients, and helped keep up the morale and relieve the boredom which often accompanied lengthy hospital stays. 
The annexes once housed a library and reading rooms as well as recreation rooms. The hall retains its proscenium arch stage and fixtures and is still used regularly by a local amateur theatre group.

The chapel continues in regular use for commemorative services throughout the year, and for funeral services for deceased veterans. It has distinctive decorative elements, particularly the stained glass windows and wall plaques. The Peace Garden is nearby providing a sanctuary and place for quiet reflection for hospital patients and their families.

During World War Two the Repat received thousands of South Australian casualties repatriated from overseas war zones, and it has continued to be associated with the broader veteran community over its entire 70 years history. 

Ref: South Australian Heritage Council

Taken on: September 17, 2017

Tags:

Daw

house

hospice

Repatriation

Hospital

heritage

registered

military

105 AMH

soldiers

The Repat « less

Sets appears in: • Repatriation General Hospital complex South Australia • War Memorials South Australia 'C-D'

Groups appears in: • Australian Images • Nikon World more » • Flickritis: over 87,000 waiting for a vaccine. • Please don't break the only rule. No rules here! • SA Central • ANYTHING ALLOWED!!!!!! • Trove: Australia in Pictures • Your photo goes here! no 30/60 • Views: 500 • Views: 1000 • World's Favorite (1 or more faves each) No limit of Faved Photo • Flickr Australia • The Flikr Group • Your Best Photography • flickr in full color [No Black & White !] • "Unlimited Photos: No Rules" (NO AI, CGI or SL images) • The Best of Australia and New Zealand • Official National Geographic Group • South Australia • FlickrCentral With No Posting Limit • State Library of South Australia Collection Development • Nikon (L)overs • South Australia Photos • Australian Suburbs • Australia All Over • Adelaide South Australia • Anything Nikon!! • South Australian History • Adelaide Past & Present • The Nikon D7100 Group • Old Buildings, structures whatever... • Nikon DSLR, body and lens • Only Amateur Photographers • Interesting Buildings Worldwide • Show All Your Photos From Around The World. NO SL/AI • Group for all users of FLICKR - No 30/60 Groups Limit • THE PHOTO OF ALL DAYS. LA FOTO DE TODOS LOS DIAS. • Flickr Worldwide. • FLICKR INTERNATIONAL - No 30/60 Groups Limit • Flickr South Australia Unlimited • Travels With My Camera - Australia • No limit - No 30/60 • Flickr Photo Album Unlimited & Instant Posting • Hospitals, Nursing Homes, Nurses and Ambulances of Australia and • Photography at its best ... all welcome • PLACE TO VISIT. AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND. • Flickr Australia Unlimited (No 30/60 restriction) • Post Anything You Like. No 30/60 • All Your Photos and Mine (No 30/60 limit - Photos from anywhere) • "Flickr Foto Share" • A group for all type of photos but no porn (No 30 • Anything Australia - Unlimited (No 30/60 restriction) • Photographers of Australia • Our Life IS Photos • Flat Out Flickr • Free from Flickr 30/60 « less

Camera: Nikon D7100, f/8.0, 1/250 sec, 18mm, ISO 200 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Nikon D7100
Lens:	18.0-105.0 mm f/3.5-5.6
Aperture:	f/8.0
Exposure Time:	0.004 sec (1/250)
Focal Length:	18mm
ISO:	200
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Not Defined
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Adobe Photoshop CC 2015 (Windows)
Show full info

Stats: 1,153 views

go back

Link to this photo view:
Link to this photo large view: