Documenting Perth History: Swan Districts Hospital - Episode 2 (2020)

After extensive years of the Midland community fighting for a hospital to be built in the Midland Junction area, the Swan District Hospital was finally given the nod. Health Minister Emil Nulsen officially opens the new £165,000 25-bed Swan District hospital on 22 September 1954.
The idea of a new hospital for Midland was discussed as early as 5 September 2005, the result of the State Government's huge $3.6 billion surplus.
On 12 November 2005, Health Minister Jim McGinty announces a new $182 million hospital will be built on the site of the old railway workshops. He envisions construction beginning in 2008, with the hospital completed sometime in 2011.
It's not until 2009 that the ball finally starts rolling, when Prime Minister Kevin Rudd attends the Swan District Hospital to promote his $180 million hospital commitment due to be completed in six years’ time.
The big day arrives on 24 November 2015 at 7am. Swan District Hospital closes at the same time the Midland Health Campus opens. With the help of multi-governments and services, a record is broken. Eighty-three patients are transferred from the Swan District Hospital to the new facility in one day, with the first patient arriving at 8am.
Before the Midland Health Campus had even finished construction, the State Government was amped up about selling the land forming the Swan District Hospital and the surrounding area. As part of their Land Asset Sales Program, they were in pursuit of cash proceeds to cut the State debt. An Expression of Interest was launched on 16 March 2015.
Almost ten years later... taxpayers have been forking out $2 million to maintain the vegetation of the abandoned hospital, its fences and a security presence.
Negotiations to transfer the site as part of the South West Native Title Settlement with the Whadjuk Aboriginal Corporation is ongoing, although the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage apparently have no plans to demolish the buildings.
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