Diamond Valley Community Hospital

The Diamond Valley Community Hospital was established in 1942 in Grimshaw Street Greensborough. Prior to the hospital, health services had been limited. There had been a baby health centre in operation since 1932, which had been very popular with residents from the surrounding areas and as far away as Research.

Previously, there was a small midwifery hospital, Genista, which was situated adjacent to the DVCH site.  When Genista closed, there was no hospital in the area prior to DVCH opening. The establishment of DVCH was brought about by a group of local identities, including Dr E Cordner, A.K. Lines,  J.L. Ryan,  A.H. Ryan, A.H. Price, J.C. Jessop and A Iredale.

Initially the hospital had seven beds, two nursing sisters, one milking cow and one hundred community subscribers. As well as providing midwifery services, the hospital also went on to provide a range of other acute health care facilities.

In the hospital’s first year of operation, 159 births were recorded there. In its most popular years, during the late nineties, up to 500 births per year were taking place at the hospital.

Sadly, due to financial circumstances, the hospital closed in 2000, after voluntary liquadation in December 1999. It was sold to the Mercy Hospital. They later sold it.  The building remains, and provides a host of other care services, including Grace Villa Aged Services.

A board with associated inscribed names is located in “The barn” at Ellis Cottage, Diamond Creek which is managed by Nillumbik Historical Society.

Other Sources:

Eltham and Whittlesea Shires Advertiser (Vic. : 1940 – 1942), Friday 9 August 1940, page 1

DIAMOND VALLEY COMMUNITY HOSPITAL £4000 Loan Offered By James Trust CONTRIBUTORS TO SCHEME WANTED AFTER some weeks of organising and investigation the proposal to erect a Diamond Valley Community Hospital appears likely to take place in the very near future. Representatives of the committee which was formed recently at a meeting at the home of Dr. E. R. Cordner waited on the trustees of the James Trust last week and was later informed that the trust would be willing to loan up to £4,000 on the proposal. At a meeting held last night it was decided to form local committees in various centres throughout the territory concerned for the purpose of making contact with all residents and interesting them in the proposal. – It was pointed out that subscribe is to, the hospital would receive a reduction of £2/2/- per week in the fees charged in the event of them.requiring hospital treatment.

Diamond Valley Community Hosptial, The Advertiser, May 16, 1941 p. 4

Eltham and Whittlesea Shires Advertiser, Friday 5 September 1941, page 1

DIAMOND VALLEY HOSPITAL In view of the refusal of the Federal Treasurer to sanction the Diamond Valley Community Hospital Committee’s proposal to erect a new hospital to serve the Diamond Valley district, the committee, in conjunction with the James Trust, has taken out an option for the purchase of two adjoining houses near the site of the proposed building: One of the houses will be used as a hospital to accommodate seven or eight beds and the other as nurses quarters. It is anticipated that a definite decision will be reached next week, and if the purchase is made immediate steps will be taken to equip the ‘hospital with a temporary surgery and operating theatre. Since “Genista” closed in June the necessity for a hospital in the district has been very apparent.

Eltham and Whittlesea Shires Advertiser, Friday 26 September 1941, page 1

Greensborough Community Hospital. A suitable building has now been purchased by the Hospital Trust for the Diamond Valley Community Hospital, and work is to proceed immediately with the slight alterations necessary and the erection of an operating theatre. It is confidently expected that the hospital will be open before Christmas.

Eltham and Whittlesea Shires Advertiser, Friday 16 January 1942, page 1

Greensborough Community Hospital Opened

200 RESIDENTS ATTEND FUNCTION After I8 months work by the organising committee, the Diamond Valley Community Hospital was opened at Greensborough last Saturday afternoon by the Mayor of Heidelberg (Councillor WV. A. Santon) in the presence of about 200 residents

Boards, beds and buildings: the history and development of the Diamond Valley Community Hospital Greensborough 1841-1971 a community project, 1971. 

The Diamond Valley Story by Dianne E. Edwards, 1979

Photo: Pixabay.

Local History Librarian, YPRL. Updated October 2024