Foundations
Bunbury, Western Australia 1927
In September1927, the property owned by the Honourable Mr. Edwin Rose, was bought by the Sisters of St John of God. It was a lovely home, built on Bury Hill overlooking the ocean.
On October 5, 1927, Sisters Ignatius Lynagh, Perpetua Downs and Loyola Vowels arrived in Bunbury from Subiaco to prepare to open St John of God first hospital in Bunbury. After a few weeks they were joined by Sisters Zita Corbett, Elizabeth Sundre and Rose Fahy.
This is the first hospital in Australia founded on the initiative of the Sisters of St John of God. The hospital in the rural South West was to alleviate the added stress of travel for patients going to Perth.
Following the completion of alterations and furnishings the opening ceremony was celebrated on December 17, 1927. Major refurbishments were carried out during 1952, 1972 and 1986. The hospital continued to serve the people of the South West region of Western Australia, which was becoming the largest population outside the metropolitan area of Perth. In 1999, the hospital was co-located to a new site with the Bunbury Regional Hospital. www.sjog.org.au
The Convent was closed in 1999 and Sisters moved to private accommodation. They continue to participate in the liberating Mission of Christ with great commitment in serving the people of Bunbury.
