World-class rehab hospital heritage listed

The State's first paraplegic and spinal injury hospital, Shenton Park Rehabilitation Hospital, has been celebrated with entry in the State Register of Heritage Places.

  • Shenton Park Rehabilitation Hospital State heritage listed
  • LandCorp to manage future redevelopment

The State's first paraplegic and spinal injury hospital, Shenton Park Rehabilitation Hospital, has been celebrated with entry in the State Register of Heritage Places.

Heritage Minister Albert Jacob said from the 1950s until its closure in 2014, the hospital provided long term treatment and rehabilitation for people with severe paralysis.

"The hospital was the first of its type in Australia and was a leading facility in spinal injury care throughout the world," Mr Jacob said.

The hospital was set up in 1894 as a make-shift tent hospital for the treatment of infectious diseases, such as smallpox, which were rampant in Western Australia in the 1880s and 1890s.

Following the outbreak of the debilitating polio virus in the 1950s, the hospital focused on providing care and services to paraplegic and quadriplegic patients.

"The paraplegic unit was founded by Sir George Bedbrook in 1954, an international pioneer in the field of paraplegic and quadriplegic care, and the driving force behind the Australia Paralympic movement," the Minister said.

"It was as a result of his work at Shenton Park that the first ever Commonwealth Paraplegic Games was held in Perth in 1962."

Mr Jacob said the State Heritage Office worked with the Department of Health and LandCorp to ensure a portion of the 15-hectare site was retained to recognise its significance while enabling the appropriate redevelopment of the site.

The heritage listing includes the star-shaped Administration and Wards Block (1938) and Paraplegic Block (1963) and the avenue of Queensland Box trees lining to the approach to the Administration Block.

LandCorp is developing a master plan for the future redevelopment of the site. The Heritage Council will continue to be a key stakeholder in determining the future use, potential adaptation or interpretation of the heritage buildings.

Fact File

Minister's office - 6552 5800