Old nurses quarters submitted for heritage listing after fate of Anzac Pool

A group of individuals with a passion for Bundaberg’s history have submitted the Old Nurses’ Quarters of the Bundaberg Hospital for official heritage listing, fearful of it meeting the same fate as the Anzac Pool.

Dozens of nurses shared their stories of time spent at the Old Nurses Quarters of the Bundaberg Hospital.

The team behind the Bundaberg Regional Heritage Group have come together to submit the Old Nurses’ Quarters at the Bundaberg Hospital for official heritage listing, fearful the historic building could meet the same fate as the Anzac Pool.

The like minded individuals who make up the group often dedicate hours of their day celebrating heritage elements of the Bundaberg region.

Member Jenny Goss joined in 2023 after watching the home across the street – the historic Consuelo House – removed from her community.

After joining, Mrs Goss put her hand up to lead the team’s application to list the Old Nurses’ Quarters of the Bundaberg Hospital with the Heritage Committee, claiming shared fears among the group kicked the application to the top of the pile.

“I’ll be honest, the motivation for the team was the loss of the Anzac Pool,” she said.

“We were very keen to make sure we didn’t lose something else.”

The application process has so far taken almost a year, with the heritage group hoping to hear the building will be officially listed in May of this year.

“There’s a lot of work involved let me put it that way, and there is a due process involved,” Mrs Goss said.

Despite the demanding nature of such an application, Mrs Goss said she genuinely enjoyed the process and was overwhelmed by the positive stories of former nurses who made use of the space.

“We’ve been getting stories from ex-nurses and their association with the building, and they are just fabulous, lovely reminiscences,” she said.

With some nurses sharing stories of their time there from as early as the 1940s Mrs Goss shared a standout memory from one former nurse.

“I’ve got one message from an ex-nurse and she said ‘having lived in these quarters from 1956-1970 I can attest to the tremendous significance this amazing home played in my life as a trainee nurse’,” she said.

“‘I was only 17 years old but the memories and comradeship will always be treasured by the nurses who called this place a refuge.’”

The building is currently in the final stages of the heritage register process, with the application recommended for listing under the Queensland Heritage Council.

While it is these days used for an entirely different purpose, currently serving as an office and training space, Mrs Goss said the historical relevance of the architecture alone should be preserved.

“Our history is always important and it is important to acknowledge the history of the region and the people who developed the area,” she said.

“It’s important not to lose – if it can be retained – the heritage that we have.”

Originally published as Old nurses quarters submitted for heritage listing after fate of Anzac Pool