Foundations
Coolgardie/Kalgoorlie, Western Australia 1896
Sisters of St John of God first arrived in Coolgardie on 14 March 1896. Sister Cecilia Dunne and Sister Antonio O'Brien travelled with Bishop Matthew Gibney, who was on his way to bless and open St Mary's Church in Kalgoorlie.
The Sisters found the situation so desperate that they decided to stay and help in whatever way they could. They lived in a tent similar to that of the miners. 
The first Sisters were soon replaced by others as the need became even greater. One of these Sisters, Sister Bridget O'Hanlon (Sister Veronica) died from typhoid fever and is buried in Kalgoorlie General Cemetery.
Coolgardie's temporary St John of God Hospital opened in 1896 and functioned for just months. The transfer of the population to the richer gold deposits of Kalgoorlie led to relocation of the Sisters and the hospital, with St John of God Hospital, Kalgoorlie opening on Sunday March 21 1897. The first patients were not admitted until after the ceremony, by which time there were already 50 patients waiting to be admitted.
The Convent was built and opened in 1902.
St John of God Sisters served the people of Kalgoorlie for 80 years: To this day there is still a wonderful bond of mutual affection between Kalgoorlie people and the Sisters.
