Snapshot of the past

A photograph of Drouin private hospital "The Bungalow".

Drouin has never had a public hospital, but there have been a number of private ones.

The first was run by Dr Lionel Druitt from a site on the corner of Lardner and Main South roads from 1902 to 1905. It was later run by Nurse Crofts.

An article from "The Gippsland Independent" in January 1914 informed its readers that Mrs McDonald had opened a private hospital at "The Bungalow", Drouin.

It read, "medical, surgical and midwifery cases will be received. A trained nurse will be in attendance on patients."

Nurse Ethel Crofts took over the lease of the hospital in early 1915, and stayed until 1920 when she left due to ill health. The last mention of "The Bungalow" as a hospital was in June 1921.

Nurse Jessie Atkinson ran another private hospital around the same time from a house on the corner of Sinclair St and Princes Way, now the United Service Station.

She styled herself as a "ladies nurse" and ran the business from around 1909 to 1923.

"Ronara" was another private hospital. Officially opened in August 1930 and built by Cr Frank Bennett, the hospital had three wards, an operating theatre, splendidly furnished bathrooms and a comfortable sitting room for the matron.

There was an earlier hospital in Young St but further east, on the corner of Young St and Hopetoun Rd. This ran from about 1906 until 1923.

There were many more advertisements for private nursing during this time. Nurse Kate Hearn opposite the primary school, Mrs Weatherall in Lardner Rd, and Nurse Kelly and Nurse Holt being just a few.

Photograph courtesy of "Buln Buln" by Graeme Butler and information courtesy of Drouin History Group.