Building the Future – RAH’s Legacy of Growth and Innovation

Part 5: 1970 – 2017

The next few decades in the Royal Adelaide Hospital’s history didn’t see as much architectural change as the preceding ones. Instead, the hospital entered an era of specialisation and restructuring. In 1971, honorary doctors providing unpaid labour were replaced by paid visiting medical staff. That same year, the volunteer unit known as The Lavender Lads and Ladies was established.

Thanks to the recent redevelopments, more space and updated facilities became available allowing the RAH to establish new units. In 1973, the first renal unit was opened, with Dr Anthony ‘Tony’ Clarkson as its inaugural director—a position he held until 1997. Another significant development was the establishment of the Haematology Unit in 1976. This unit housed dedicated beds and was staffed by specialised SA Pathology (then IMVS) haematology workers. It became one of the largest units in Australia to successfully combine patient care with laboratory and diagnostic research.

As with every stage in the hospital’s history, redevelopment was inevitable. By the 1990s, it became evident that the hospital needed updates to accommodate rapidly advancing technologies and evolving clinical practices. On January 10th 2000, the government approved a $74 million redevelopment of the old Royal Adelaide Hospital. This project included the addition of the new P building, which would house a new observation and assessment unit on the ground floor, new intensive care facilities on level 4, and a new cafeteria overlooking the Botanic Gardens on level 5. Other upgrades included pedestrian access from the new car park to the North Wing and improvements to ancillary services. Construction was completed in 2005.

The final stage in this chronology occurred in 2007, when the state government unveiled plans to build the new Royal Adelaide Hospital in the vacated railyards. Construction began in June 2011, with a program mapped out to complete the project. In January 2015, while still under construction, the first piece of equipment to be installed was a purpose-built hyperbaric chamber. Weighing 56 tonnes, the chamber was installed first, with the hyperbaric unit and rest of the hospital built around the chamber.

But alas, like many major projects, both the budget and timeline were blown out. Originally budgeted at $1.7 billion, the cost ballooned to $2.3 billion by the time the hospital opened. Initially set to open in April 2016, the date was postponed to September 2017. Despite these setbacks, the new Royal Adelaide Hospital stands as the largest building infrastructure project in South Australia’s history and one of the most expensive buildings in the world. While it may not appear as extravagant as some of its counterparts, it more than compensates with state-of-the-art technology.

Throughout its 187-year history, the Royal Adelaide Hospital has undergone tremendous change. With multiple relocations and redevelopments, it has remained South Australia’s premier health facility and a cornerstone of the states healthcare system. Gone are the days when patients sought shelter under an old raggedy sail, relying on the generosity of passers-by. Today, the hospital is a cutting-edge institution where automated robotic vehicles work alongside nurses and doctors.

Written by Anna Grigoriev, CALHN Health Museum