Foundations
Geraldton, Western Australia 1936
A new community of the Sisters of Saint John of God was founded in 1936 in Geraldton. This new foundation resulted from a gift of land for a Catholic Hospital by William Burke and Bishop James Patrick O'Collins, Bishop of Geraldton.
Both men were anxious to alleviate the distress of sick people in the Geraldton region needing to travel to Perth for medical care.
The donation of the site by Mr. William Burke, enabled a building to commence of a purpose designed hospital. The hospital design, by the renowned priest-architect, Father John Cyril Hawes was based on classical hospital designs.
At first the hospital building served as both hospital and convent until 1939, when a new convent was built. Additions and renovations were required with the advances in medical science and an increasing workload for the hospital. www.sjog.org.au
Sisters of St John of God continue to have a presence in the Geraldton region and minister to those in need.
