Introduction

Following the end of the Second World War, the population of the Nelson Bay area was starting to increase. By 1950, it had reached some 1000 residents.

However, there was a significant problem in that there was no local doctor, and the nearest hospital was at Newcastle.

By 1951, public calls were being made to government representatives for a solution to the issue of medical facilities.

By 1952, there was partial relief with the appointment of a full-time doctor based at Nelson Bay.

The community had to wait until 1956 for a local hospital to be opened in the former Migrant Hostel hospital at Fly Point. This building had been closed since 1953 and had been vandalised.

The Nelson Bay Hospital remained operational for 25 years, until it was closed in 1981.

Permanent Doctor sought for Nelson Bay – 1951

The Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate of 28 February 1951, page 4, reported:

‘Nelson’s Bay Progress Association decided to support the Urban Area Committee’s application for a resident doctor. Speakers said a doctor and fully staffed hospital was provided for 800 migrants [at Nelson Bay], but the N.S.W. Health Department thought four hours’ medical attention a week was enough for 1100 residents. The present service cost £416. Not much more would be needed for a full-time service.’

The Raymond Terrace Examiner and Lower Hunter and Port Stephens Advertiser of 15 March 1951, page 3, also reported:

‘The Nelson Bay people have been making an effort for some time to get a permanent resident doctor. The Minister for Health advised the Port Stephens Shire Council that the Department had been making enquiries. The letter said the Department did not supply doctors, they provided a subsidy and the rest was left to the residents. Cr. Dart, said the matter had been the subject of consideration by the Bay people for some time. It had been stated that there were two doctors who may be prepared to consider the matter.’

The Dungog Chronicle of 18 August 1951, page 3, further reported:

‘The Soldier’s Point Branch, Australian Labor Party has been advised by the Minister for Health, the Hon. M. O’Sulllvan, following representations, that it has been decided, subject to Treasury approval, to appoint a subsidised doctor at Nelson Bay to service that centre and Soldier’s Point and Salamander Bay.

A medical practitioner, Doctor Basil St. Vincent Welch, was appointed to the Nelson Bay area by October 1952.

Request for the Migrant Hostel Hospital to be made available to the public – 1952

The Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate of 16 February 1952, page 6, reported:

‘The Leader of the Federal Opposition (Dr. Evatt) advised Soldier’s Point A.L.P. branch that the Minister for Immigration (Mr. Holt) was inquiring whether residents and visitors could be admitted to the migrant hospital at Nelson’s Bay. Mr. Holt had said there could be difficulties in making this hospital available to the public. The State Vice-president Health (Mr. O’Sullivan) advised he had made a request to the Director-General of Health. The State Vice-president (Mr. C. L. Robinson) said branch proposals for hospital treatment at Nelson’s Bay were supported by the Hospitals Commission. He understood that, subject to Federal cooperation, the Commission would assist with equipment and finance.’

The Maitland Mercury of 12 March 1952, page 2, further reported:

‘Port Stephens Shire Council supported a request by Soldiers’ Point A.L.P. branch for the hospital at Nelson Bay Migrant Centre to be made available to the public. The request was made to the N.S.W. Minister for Health (Mr. O’Sulllvan). The branch advised that the Minister had asked the Director-General of Health at Canberra to grant the request. The Hospitals’ Association was supporting the proposal.’

The request to use the Migrant Hostel Hospital was not granted.

Former Migrant Hostel Building to be used as a Hospital – 1953

On 8 June 1953 at a meeting held in the Catholic Hall in Magnus Street, Nelson Bay, a committee was formed to locate a suitable building for a local hospital. One building stood out as an obvious choice and that was the hospital building of the former Migrant Hostel.

In October 1953, the Commonwealth Government granted approval for the building at the former HMAS Assault military base, which that had been previously used as the hospital for the Migrant Hostel, to be made available for use as a Nelson Bay community hospital.

The Newcastle Sun of 13 October 1953, page 8, reported:

‘Buildings at the old naval station at Nelson Bay may be used for the establishment of a district hospital. The Federal Member for Paterson (Mr. A. Fairhall) said today that in June a public meeting at Nelson Bay had urged the need for a hospital and negotiations were begun for a suitable site and building. Following negotiations with the Minister for the Interior, he had secured permission to use certain buildings on the old naval station, “H.M.A.S. Assault,” which were previously used as an immigration centre.

The Minister had agreed to lease the land and buildings to the hospital committee on a permissive occupancy basis, with 12 months’ notice of termination, at a peppercorn rental. Mr. Fairhall said the committee would now consider the programme for the establishment and maintenance of the hospital.’

The Dungog Chronicle of 14 October 1953, page 8, also reported:

‘In June the citizens of Nelson Bay at a public meeting stressed the need for some hospital service in that centre and negotiations were entered into for a suitable site and building.

At the request of the Committee, representations were made to the Minister for the Interior through Mr. Allen Fairhall, M.P., with a view to securing occupancy of certain buildings on the old Naval Station, H.M.A.S. “Assault,” recently used by the Immigration Centre as a hospital.

Following the Committee’s negotiations with the Dept. and Mr. Fairhall’s representations to the Minister, the latter has now agreed to a lease of the land and buildings to the Committee on a permissive occupancy basis with 12 months’ notice of termination, at a peppercorn rental. The Committee will now consider the programme for the establishment and maintenance of the hospital.’

New Hospital to include a Maternity Room – 1953

The Raymond Terrace Examiner and Lower Hunter and Port Stephens Advertiser of 15 October 1953, page 2, reported:

‘The Annual meeting of the Nelson Bay Country Women’s Association was held on Tuesday, October 6th. ….. In keeping with their concern with the welfare of mothers and babies. It was decided to make the aim for the coming year the furnishing of a maternity room in the newly acquired hospital at Nelson Bay. 

Planning and Fund Raising Commences- 1953

The Raymond Terrace Examiner and Lower Hunter and Port Stephens Advertiser of Thursday 22 October 1953, page 2, reported:

‘At a public meeting held in Nelson Bay, in June stressing the urgent need of a hospital for Nelson Bay and the surrounding district, the Nelson Bay Hospital Committee was formed, and negotiations were commenced for permission to use the hospital buildings on the H. M. A. S. station and latterly used by the Department of Immigration. Very valuable assistance was given in this matter by Senator Arnold and Mr. Fairhall. …..

The Committee are now considering a programme for the establishment and maintenance of the hospital which they hope will be available to the people of Nelson Bay in the very near future.

The first annual hospital ball was held in the Arcadia Theatre, Nelson Bay, on October 9th. The ballroom was tastefully decorated with large bowls of pink and white flowers and approximately 250 couples were present. The music was supplied by the Graingers’ Dance Band and novelty dances were arranged throughout the evening. A floor show was produced by John Laman and added to the attractions of the night. A poultry and lobster supper was served in St. Michael’s Hall during the evening.’

A follow-up ball to raise funds for the new Nelson Bay hospital was conducted by the Country Women’s Association during May 1954. The Raymond Terrace Examiner and Lower Hunter and Port Stephens Advertiser of 8 April 1954, page 1, reported:

‘The above Association’s ball this year will be held in the Arcadia Theatre, on Friday 7th May. The entire proceeds will be devoted to help furnish the maternity ward at the proposed Nelson Bay hospital.

The aim of the above Association for this year is to furnish a three-bed maternity ward at the hospital. The ladies are very enthusiastic and are settling down in earnest to raise the necessary money. An old-time Waltz Competition is being held at the Ball, for which there is a prize of £10/10/ per couple. ….. The Committee would be pleased to see as many dancers as can possibly attend for so worthy a cause.’

Blue and Gold Ball in aid of the Nelson Bay District Hospital advertisement [Raymond Terrace Examiner and Lower Hunter and Port Stephens Advertiser, 29 April 1954]

Recollections of the wife of the first Nelson Bay Doctor – 1954

The Sun of 28 April 1954, page 37, reported:

‘Being the wife of the only doctor in a 30-mile radius could be a handicap to a happy marriage, according to the doctor’s wife here. She is pretty Mrs. [Mildred] Basil St. Vincent Welch. Nelson’s Bay is a fishing township about 32 miles north of Newcastle, and Dr. Welch is the only doctor in the area. “I’d never see my husband if I didn’t go out on calls with him,” she said today.

The doctor and his wife take their two children, nine-year-old John and four-year-old Rosemary, with them. “I like sleeping in the back of the car as long as Rosemary doesn’t kick me off the seat,” John said. Although she has had no nursing experience, Mrs. Welch has often helped her husband in cases of emergency. “I’ve helped him deliver several babies in homes and in his surgery,” she said.

“At first I shuddered at the surgery sights, but now I’m accustomed to them.” There is no hospital at Nelson’s Bay. The nearest is at Newcastle. “The navy set up a hospital here years ago, but when it moved out the hospital was left vacant,” Mrs. Welch said. “Now the women in Nelson’s Bay are working hard to raise funds so that we may be able to buy it. A hospital is a necessity when we’re so far from one,” she added.

Mrs. Welch is president of the local RSL women’s auxiliary. With 15 committee members she is organising fund-raising parties. “In the past few weeks, we have raised £250, which shows how much the residents of Nelson’s Bay want a community hospital,” she said. Population of Nelson’s Bay is 525, and Dr. Welch also attends to the many migrants at the local camp.’

Mildred Basil St. Vincent and children [Sun, 28 April 1954]

Funding for a Hospital Bed provided – 1954

The Newcastle Sun of 17 September 1954, page 5, 1954, reported:

‘A cheque for £294 17s 6d, a hospital bed and an inscribed plaque were presented to Nelson Bay Hospital Committee at a dance held in the Soldiers’ Point Progress Hall.

A Ranelagh tray and drinking set for the board room of the hospital were also included in the presentation which was made by Mesdames F. Lancaster and B. Brown. The presentations were made to Dr. St. Vincent Welch on behalf of the hospital committee. Members of the women’s auxiliary received shoulder sprays made by Mrs. B. Brown.

The top tier of a celebration cake made by Mr. and Mrs. M. Oates featured a decorative motif representing a scene in a hospital ward. The top tier was presented to Dr. Welch and the second tier to Mrs. R. Brown.’

Funding for a Maternity Room – 1954

The Raymond Terrace Examiner and Lower Hunter and Port Stephens Advertiser of 21 October 1954, page 3, reported:

‘The annual meeting of Nelson Bay C. W. A. branch was held … on October 6th. … It was decided to make our aim for the year the furnishing of a 3-bed maternity room in the proposed Nelson Bay hospital. The report stated that £300 had been set aside from the special project. The branch hoped that it would not be long before the hospital was an accomplished fact and the money could be spent.’

Permissive Occupancy Granted to Hospital Committee – 1954

The Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate of 8 October 1954, page 10, reported:

‘The Minister for Lands (Mr. Hawkins) wrote [to Port Stephens Shire Council] through Mr. Fitzgerald, M.L.A., that the question of granting Nelson Bay Hospital Committee a permissive occupancy over an area for a community hospital, was receiving attention. When action was completed, papers would be returned to the District Surveyor at East Maitland for a report on the disposal of the balance of land after vacation by the Commonwealth.’

The permissive occupancy was purchased by the Hospital Committee for five hundred pounds, and a 25-year lease was taken on the land and building from the Lands Board. In July 1955, the Committee commenced to equip the building.

Nelson Bay Hospital Opens – 1956

The Nelson Bay Hospital opened on 16 June 1956, following the upgrading of the building and the purchase of hospital items. The first Matron of the hospital was Matron Saville.

The hospital continued to function until 1981, when the building was deemed to be unsuitable for hospital purposes. Port Stephens Shire Council advertised the building for demolition during 1981.

Nelson Bay Hospital and entrance, circa 1980. The former military building standing behind the hospital has since been demolished, and the area is now a carpark.

Hospital building saved from demolition – 1981

The decommissioned Hospital Building was purchased by the Port Stephens Society of the Arts for $1500. On 10 August 1981 the former hospital building commenced a new life as the Port Stephens Cultural Centre.

The first Open Day held at the new Cultural Centre was held on 14 April 1982. The Society of the Arts was amalgamated into the Port Stephens Cultural Centre in December 1983.

In 1987, the Cultural Centre property became a Perpetual Reserve.

Today it is known as the Port Stephens Community Arts Centre.

Port Stephens Cultural Centre, as extended with enclosed verandah, circa 1980’s. The old ‘Pottery’ building behind the Cultural Centre was demolished in 1999 [Port Stephens Examiner]

Port Stephens Community Arts Centre – 2025 [Author photo]

Concluding Comments

The residents of the Nelson Bay area had to wait a further seven years for the provision of a new hospital.

In 1988, the Nelson Bay Polyclinic was opened offering a variety of medical services.

The facility officially became the Tomaree Community Hospital and Health Care Centre in May 2020, under the auspices of the Hunter New England Local Health District. It is situated in Trevally Street, Nelson Bay.

Other relevant information is published on this website and can be viewed at the following links:

Nelson Bay Migrant Hostel – A Place for Rebuilding Lives

History of the Tomaree Convalescent Hostel

Proposed Mental Hospital at Nelson Bay – 1945

A Pictorial History of HMAS Assault – Nelson Bay

Proposals to Make Port Stephens a Quarantine Area

Researched and compiled by Kevin McGuinness

December 2025