Foundations
Ballarat, Victoria 1915
The Sisters of St John of God came from Subiaco, Western Australia in March 1915 at the invitation of Bishop Joseph Higgins, third Bishop of Ballarat to establish a Health Care facility.
They procured a rather impressive residence in Drummond Street known as "Bailey's Mansion" and this became the original St John of God Hospital with a bed capacity of thirty.
Bishop Joseph Higgins, invited the establishment of this facility in his diocese as a pastoral expression of the Church's obligation to care for the sick and as a pastoral strategy towards the creation of inter-faith harmony in the city of Ballarat.
Ballarat Children's Ward Christmas Patry
The Sisters of St John of God collaborated with many of the local people of Ballarat. "Bailey's Mansion" was renovated to accommodate the new hospital and has since served as the home of various aspects of hospital functioning.
With a series of expansions and almost continual redevelopment there has been a steady progression from "Bailey's Mansion" to the technically sophisticated facility of the 21st century, presently meeting the ever-changing needs of society. www.sjog.org.au
The compassionate care of Sisters of St John of God in their various ministries in Ballarat, continues to embrace and benefit the whole community.
Sr Assumption Neary
