RPA Walking Tour - Sydney South West Area Health Service

Stop 1.......This is one of only two buildings extant from theoriginal Hospital. Although the Hospital opened in1882, the Administration Block was not ready foruse until 1884.Inside you will see several beautiful stained-glasswindows and busts of prominent RPA men fromthe late 19th and early 20th century. There is alsoa bust of Florence Nightingale which was relocatedto this spot from the Queen Mary Nurses’ Home in2005. Feel free to walk in and have a look around.In addition to the administrative offices andquarters for the medical and nursing staff, thebuilding originally housed the medical library, theoutpatients department, a dispensary, a waitingroom for patients requesting admission or for theirvisitors and two beds for accident cases.The Administration BlockOriginally a large wooden staircase sat in the centreof the foyer and was staffed by the Hall Porter,Mr James Crombie, who held the post for 22 years.His job was to monitor all comings and goings andto keep track of which physicians and surgeonswere on duty.4