Richmond Park emergency hospital 1918

On 15 November 1918, with influenza patients crowding the fever ward and an overflow marque at Nelson Hospital, a decision was made to ask the Agricultural and Pastoral Association if they could make their Richmond grandstand available for use as a temporary emergency hospital. There were no ‘virulent cases’ of Spanish flu' in Richmond Borough at the time, but the situation in Waimea County was worse, and included twenty one of the twenty four residents of Glenhope down with influenza. There were fears that many more could become ill.¹

Dr H. O. Washbourn, staff and patients at Hillcrest Hospital, Richmond. 1926. Image from Tasman Heritage.

Richmond Park (the A&P Showgrounds) was the natural choice for the make-shift hospital. The property had multiple buildings including the brand new grandstand as well as large grounds suitable for tents. It was isolated, so not an infection risk to nearby families, and was only a short distance from Richmond and the train station, so could be quickly stocked with medicines and other supplies.  

Within a few days the hospital was set up in the large tearooms building at Richmond Park, and ready for patients by 20 November 1918. The large well ventilated and well-lit room was divided into two wards with an initial capacity for fifteen patients in all, and plenty of extra space for additional beds if they were needed. Within a week fourteen of the beds were occupied.² 

The Nelson Jockey Club rooms on site became the dorms for the nurses and cooking staff. Electric lighting was installed to the staff quarters, the hospital, kitchens and grounds by the Waimea Electric Light Company. Running water and even a bath for the staff were also quickly set up, as was a telephone connection.  The Post Office telegraph engineers installed the telephone lines and got them working within eight hours of the initial request.³  

The well equipped hospital was presided over by Harriet Thomas (also know as Mrs. E. J. Thomas) and 'a band of willing voluntary workers'.⁴ Mrs. Thomas was already an experienced leader, having spent the war years organising functions and fundraising drives for the local branch of the Red Cross. The attending doctor was Dr. Hubert Oscar Washbourn. His offer to waive his usual fees and treat patients at the emergency hospital for free, as well as the volunteer labour force made the hospital more affordable to poorer families, with a fee of 4s per day.⁵ 

Local residents donated lemons, eggs, milk, vegetables and other goods for the patients, and were also invited to donate cakes for the staff.  A Nelson Mail article at the time praised 'the public spiritedness of Richmond citizens’ and the wise leadership of Dr. Washbourn and Mr. Wilkes (Richmond Borough Mayor) and the energy and labour of a host of workers. ⁶

After the initial wave of patients, influenza cases in the district quickly receded. The temporary hospital was closed and Richmond Park returned to its usual function in time to host for the delayed '26th Annual Show' on the 19 February 1919. A large picnic was held at Baigent's property in Wakefield as a thank you to the workers who helped at the hospital, and Mayor Wilkes gave a speech crediting the workers and the 'isolation method' for the successful treatment of thirty two patients, with no deaths.⁷ 

July 2020

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