Charters Towers marks a milestone anniversary

Officially opened during the peak of the gold rush era, the original and still operational Gill Street Charters Towers Hospital has celebrated 140 years of serving the community.

The hospital was opened on 10 August 1884 at a cost of about £7000 and since then it and the staff have helped to create a legacy of resilience, innovation, and care for gold city residents.

Charters Towers Health Service’s (CTHS) director of nursing Katrina Ford said the hospital had become a landmark institution of the town.

“It is one of the oldest operational health buildings in Queensland and today serves as the inpatient ward on the ground floor and a space for community health services on the second floor,” Ms Ford said.

“Since opening in 1884 the hospital and healthcare in Charters Towers has continued to adapt and grow to meet the ever-changing needs of the community.

“We can see that with the continual expansions and refurbishments done at the Gill Street health service ground.

“The one thing that has never changed has been the health service’s commitment to delivering compassionate and high-quality care to patients.”

CTHS is one of 21 facilities that make up the Townsville Hospital and Health Service (HHS).

Townsville Hospital and Health Board Chair Tony Mooney said the Townsville HHS had continued to listen to, engage with, and advocate for communities like Charters Towers to further improve rural healthcare delivery.

“There have been extensive improvements and additions to the CTHS facilities as the needs of Charters Towers and surrounding communities have changed,” Mr Mooney said.

“Only a couple of years ago, following consultation and advocacy work, we managed to deliver renal services to Charters Towers so locals with chronic kidney disease wouldn’t have to travel to Townsville to get the treatment they needed.

“Through talking to the community and local health professionals there was an identified need for a CT scanner, and it is why we pushed and secured funding for it.

“The health service and the evolution of it over the last 140 years has been driven by the care local health professionals have for their community and this will continue for the next 140 years.”

Townsville HHS chief executive Kieran Keyes said it was important to celebrate the individuals who have dedicated their time, expertise, and compassion to healthcare in Charters Towers.

“There have been countless nurses, doctors, allied health professionals, and support staff who have walked through the corridors of the hospital,” Mr Keyes said.

“The celebration of the hospital is as much a celebration of those people who have made Charters Towers their home and cared for its residents.

“Observing the anniversary is an opportunity to honour the past, celebrate the present and look towards the future.

“The Townsville HHS and CTHS looks forward to many more years of serving the people of the Charters Towers region and ensuring residents have access to high-quality healthcare.”