Kogarah

22 November 2016

By Agnes Field


I used to live in St George area more than 36 years ago.  The area has changed a lot in the last 36 years. There are more people living in the area. There are more housing anJifd lots of newJif units to provide for the increase population.

The St Geroge Hospital used to be a small cottage hospital.  There were different wards scatter across the hospital site. There was the nurses'home where the nurses used to live.  There was also a tennis court and swimming pool for the hospital staff. The laundry was close to the highway which is now St George Private Hospital.

Kogarah shopping area is still about the same as today along railway parade. The railway station hadbeen modernised otherwise it much about the same as before which is a blessing with all high rise in all the surrounding area.

The hospital itself has gone through a lot of changes over the years. The tallest building was only three stories high with only a single lift and very slow. The lift in the nurses' home had to be operated manually by opening the first set of doors then open the second set of door with your free hand,which could be tricky at times. The nurses' home shut it door at 12 midnight. So if the staff came in late at night, they used to climb in the window of the girls who lived on the ground floor which that could be interesting at times.

Standing on the balcony at Primrose House 

Primrose house at Dolls Point was also part of the annex of the hospital. It was used as age care and  convalescent home. It is sitting right on the beach with beautiful view. It was loved by the patients so did the staff . It was a very pleasant environment to work in. The nurses used to live in the attic up a set of little wooden steps. There was also Mrs Primrose who also lives in the roof space. That was part of the initiation of new staff who will be staying in the attic. It is now used as offices for some of the hospital administration staff members.

The hospital has changed from a small cottage hospital to over 500 beds when the new building is completed.

Kogarah had changed from a sleepy suburb to a very busy multicultural suburb. There are different types foods from all the cultures.

I suppose we all have to change with time, but I don't know it's for better or for worse.

Primrose House in 1970's

Agnes Field

http://howsthat1.blogspot.com.au/