Herston - Royal Brisbane Hospital

The history of Brisbane's main hospital dates back to the earliest times of European settlement in Queensland.

The first hospital was established as part of the Moreton Bay Penal Colony, originally located at Redcliffe, in 1824. When the penal colony was moved to the present site of Brisbane's central business district, in 1825, the hospital was sited near the present corner of George and Ann Streets, with the site extending through to present day North Quay.

Hospital, Moreton Bay Penal Colony, ca.1835

Surgeon's Cottage, George Street, Brisbane, ca.1862

Here it stayed until 1867, when it was moved to what was considered to be a more suitable location at Herston, which was then known as the "Quarries".

Site of the Brisbane Hospital, Herston, ca. 1869


In the period since its establishment at Herston, it has steadily expanded and developed, quickly becoming Queensland's major hospital. Few buildings survive from the hospital's early period of development, and with the pressure of expansion as the hospital continues to expand, those that do are probably at risk of redevelopemnt or demolition. This will mean that, over time, there will be fewer and fewer physical links with the hospital's early history.

Once dominating the Herston streetscape, the imposing busway infrastructure is now very much part of the hospital site.