Demolition date for historic Gympie nurse quarters still unknown

The completion of new nurse and staff accommodation at Gympie Hospital has put the impending destruction of its historic, century-old nurses’ quarters back in the spotlight.

The completion of the brand new $8 million nurse and staff accommodation at Gympie Hospital (left) has put the impending destruction of its historic, century-old nurses’ quarters back in the spotlight.

The completion of an $8 million new staff accommodation building next door to Gympie Hospital has started the clock ticking on the controversial demolition of the historic old nurses' quarters, but details on when and what will replace it remain unclear.

Work on the new 24-bed quarters, started in August next to the hospital’s expanded car park at Henry St, was finished last Wednesday.

During construction it was revealed the demolition of the century-old nurses' quarters at Alfred St was on the cards too.

Asbestos found in the building played a part in the decision, which was met with backlash from some corners of the community.

On Friday a Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Services spokeswoman reiterated the department had undertaken extensive investigations into the future of the site.

“The Gympie Hospital nursing quarters are not listed on the Queensland Heritage Register as a place of significance; however, we have undertaken a process of due diligence,” the spokeswoman said.

Work demolishing the building is expected to start in 2024, she said.

The new $8 million Gympie Hospital staff accommodation opened on January 10, 2024.

The question of what will rise from its ashes is less clear.

Carparking was one suggestion put forward, given the ongoing constraints and loss of spaces as a result of the newly constructed accommodations.

SCHHS would not be drawn on whether the demolition of the quarters would be a case doing so to put up a parking lot, with the spokeswoman only noting that “as we continue to see increased demand for our services … we are temporarily using a number of sites to support carparking”.

The asbestos-riddled century-old nurses quarters is due for demolition in 2024, but few details as to what will become of the site have been made clear.

There appear to be minimal options for expanding parking outside the hospital, which is largely boxed in by residential developments.

Parking issues at the hospital has been an ongoing problem for more than a decade and have impacted other nearby health service projects proposed near the precinct.

The 2022-2027 SCHHS Master Clinical Services Plan makes no suggestion as to the future of the quarters or other buildings at the precinct.

The plan says Gympie is expected to continue operating as a “hybrid” service, and work will be done to “redevelop” the hospital to “meet future demand”.

A media release announcing the opening of the new accommodation said it was built to “help attract and retain vital health workers to Gympie Hospital”.

The quarters include laundry and kitchen facilities for short-term use by the hospital's medical and nursing staff.