Minister unveils South-West Health Campus foundation stones

21/2/00
More than 100 years of health history has been brought together at the South-West Health Campus in a permanent display of foundation stones that signify the importance of medical care throughout the Bunbury region.
A commemorative foundation stone, which was laid by Sir John Forrest at the old hospital site when he was the State's first Premier, has been shifted to the new campus.
Health Minister John Day today unveiled the original stone at the new campus and met hospital staff and members of the hospital's history group.
The original stone is now at the campus with two others - one which marked the start of construction at the South-West Health Campus and another which has been taken from the old Bunbury Regional Hospital building.
The stones have been placed in the central courtyard area and are accessible to the public.
Mr Day said that the foundation stones captured a significant slice of Bunbury's history.
"Work on Bunbury's first dedicated public hospital began in 1896. Sir John Forrest marked the start to construction by laying a large foundation stone at the Parkfield Street site, where the city's library now stands," he said.
"The first hospital was finished two years later, had 37 beds and cost 5600 pounds.
"It was replaced by the regional hospital in Blair Street in 1966."
Mr Day said Bunbury's public and private hospitals moved to the $68 million South-West Health Campus nearly 12 months ago into what is now the most modern regional health facility in Australia.
"The new campus reflects a new way of thinking about health care with its low level and open design, and its ability to handle a large through-put of day patients," he said.
"One of the very positive messages we have been getting back from the local community is the high level of health care services that have been provided 'closer to home' which replace the need for people to have to travel to Perth for treatment."
Mr Day said the public feedback on the new health campus was also complimentary on the artwork program which gave the campus a special character.
"The display of foundation stones is a great show of history and just adds to the character of this modern health facility," he said.
Media contact: Mark Thompson on pager 9482 4648