First step for Brisbane maternity hospital upgrade

The first step has been taken in a major makeover of a Brisbane maternity hospital, allowing it to deliver even more babies. SEE THE PLANS

There are major changes afoot at the Mater, where thousands of Queensland babies have been born over the decades including triplets Mabel, Poppy and Nora. Picture: Jamie Hanson

The landmark Duncombe building on the Mater Hospital site in South Brisbane will be demolished as part of a multimillion-dollar upgrade.

The 1960-era building was known as the Mater Mother’s Hospital at the time.

Thousands of babies were born there before it was decommissioned in 2008 and the current maternity hospital opened.

The Duncombe building on the Mater Hospital site will be demolished for a major transformation.

Aerial view of the sprawling Mater Hospital site.

Conrad Gargett will design the new buildings, which will replace many old buildings along the western boundary of the hospital.

It said in a development application that the Duncombe building, which would be knocked down late this year subject ot approvals.

“The proposal is to remove the old Duncombe Building, which is at the end of life and no longer suitable for the safe and efficient delivery of health services, to make way for future clinical services infrastructure to deliver contemporary healthcare and wellbeing services,’’ a Mater spokeswoman said.

“None of the proposed buildings (to be demolished) are heritage listed infrastructure.

“Health building requirements have also changed, making this building obsolete and unable to comply with modern health facility design guidelines.

Historical photo of the Duncombe building.

“As Brisbane’s inner city continues to undergo significant transformation and particularly South Brisbane — with Brisbane Metro, Cross River Rail and the South Bank Ferry Terminal — it is a timely opportunity for Mater to undertake a review of its built environment and repurpose infrastructure.’’

The development application for the demolition comes after not-for-profit health group Mater Misericordiae Limited announced in October that it would consolidate its administration into a newly built head office in Newstead.

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Mater will move hundreds of staff, mostly from South Brisbane, into an A-grade 11-storey office building at Stratton St in Newstead in a new corporate HQ and training facility.

“This master plan has been devised through a detailed process of research, stakeholder engagement, strategic thinking and assessment,’’ planner Urbis said.

“The master plan is to guide the redevelopment of Mater Hill as a cohesive, open and engaging health precinct which is intrinsically connected to the city it serves”.

Tens of thousands of Queenslanders were born at the old Mater Mother’s Hospital.

The foundation stone was laid in 1948 and the current structure went up in 1960 but has been modified many times since.

The Sisters of Mercy order set up a maternity hospital in 1906 at North Quay before it moved to the current site in 1910.

For more details visit Council’s development application portal pdonline and enter application number A005637812.