St Martin's House

Former St Martin's Hospital, Brisbane, 2013

St Martin's House is a heritage-listed former hospital located at 373 Ann Street, Brisbane City, Queensland, Australia. It sits within the grounds of St John's Cathedral.

History

In 1920, architect Lange Powell won the competition for the St Martin's War Memorial Hospital. Powell was known to be skillful with pen, ink work and watercolour render, therefore he submitted a perspective rendering of the hospital which was described by the Most Reverened St Clair Donaldson, Archbishop of Brisbane, as "a gem in architecture".[1]

The proposed site was on Wickham Terrace where Anzac House now stands, but it was rejected because it was considered too far out of town. Powell designed it with a close; however it was proven to be irrelevant in some ways as it cuts off air ventilation to the patient's room. The hospital is constructed using mainly bricks and stone on solid rock foundations. Thomas Keenan and Son were assigned as the contractors of the project.[1]

On 28 November 1922 the hospital was officially opened and dedicated by the then Governor-General of Australia, Lord Forster.[2][3]

The hospital was closed in June 1971 and the patients were relocated to a new hospital at Zillmere. It was then planned to demolish the building, but this was averted due to a public campaign to "Save St Martin's".[2]

In November 1990, after renovations, St Martin's House was reopened as the administrative headquarters for the Anglican diocese. The top floor was converted into residential accommodation for the precentor.[2]

Description

The base consists of Brisbane tuff, the ground floor to first floor's sill is made of sandstone and above this in brickwork with two stone string courses. The roof is high pitched and covered in shingle tiles and the windows are six paned pivot hung sashes. St Martin's consist of two storeys with the central portions in three.[1]

It is evident that Powell was fond of ornamental rainwater heads. On the cathedral elevation there are two rainwater heads with arms extending five feet on either side, giving the appearance of a cross. The entrance is rather insignificant and opens into the vestibule which is paneled in dark oak timber. There are private rooms on the cathedral side and small wards on the other, which open onto a wide balcony. The nurses’ quarters are in a two storey wing of Eton House, which is just adjacent to the hospital. A children's wing was added in 1940 by John Darnell and the design is to blend with the main hospital.[1]

Although St Martin's is arguably not the most practical design for a hospital, it was mentioned that Powell made the plan to suit the elevation.[1]

Heritage listing

The building was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 'Lange L. Powell, Architect', Kerr, Margaret F.; pgs: 33-35, Faculty of Architecture, University of Queensland, February 1957
  2. 1 2 3 4 "St Martin's House (entry 600075)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  3. ↑ "The Gallant Dead. Church of England's Tribute.". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 29 November 1922. p. 5. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
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