Adelaide Hospital Gatehouse

The Adelaide Hospital Gatehouse was completed in early 1860’s, along with the perimeter wall and gates.

Constructed from Glen Osmond stone, the Gatehouse had a slate roof. Glen Osmond bluestone was a hard, greenish grey fine-grained sandstone and extracted from a quarry located near the entrance to the south Eastern Freeway at Glen Osmond, Adelaide.

The outside wall of the Gatehouse formed part of the perimeter wall of the hospital. Entrance to the Gatehouse was inside the main carriage gates. There was a small walled back garden, with the back wall again part of the perimeter wall fronting the corner of North Terrace and Frome Road.

The original fence had large brick and render pillars placed on either side of a main carriage gate. Similarly there was a later addition of pedestrian gates on either side. The brick wall was extended with smaller pillars interspaced along the fence with hooped iron supports added between the brick pillars. These supported the wrought iron rod and spear inserts.

Gatekeeper and Head Gardener

The Gatekeeper and Head Gardener lived in the Gatehouse with their families. The first was James Hansen, who lived with his wife and thirteen children in the three roomed lodge. After James died in 1901, in order for the family to have somewhere to live, his son John “Jack” took over the role.

Appointed Assistant Gardener in 1907, William Sandberg then became Head Gardener in 1913. The Sandberg family lived in the gatehouse until it was demolished in 1932 to build the new Casualty Building.

Gatekeeper and Gardener Duties:

Duties connected with the Office of Gatekeeper and Gardener, Adelaide Hospital (1 August 1877):

• Keep the garden, roads and footpaths in good order;
• Receive the passes of Patients, Wardsmen, Nurses, and Servants, and note the time of their return thereon.  To return the passes issued to patients to the Consulting Room every morning at 9am, and return those issued to Wardsmen, Nurses and Servants to the officers by whom they were issued every Monday morning;
• Have charge of the keys of the Gates near the Lodge, to lock the large gate at 8pm and the side gate at 10pm. To unlock and open both gates at 6am every morning, excepting Sundays, on which day they need not be opened (excepting for the admission of outpatients and cases of emergency) until the hour appointed for the admission of visitors;
• Open the gates at any hour of the day or night, for the admission of cases of emergency;
• Light one of the Gas Lamps at the Lodge Gate every evening at dusk and turn off the same at daylight every morning;
• Keep loiterers away from the gates and grounds;
• Have charge of the Horse and keep the dray and harness in good repair; and
• Obey the orders and be under the immediate control of the Secretary and not on any account absent yourself from your duties without his permission.

Early Gatekeepers and Gardeners

Written by Margot Way, CALHN Health Museum

(Information sourced from Trove, History Trust, Ancestry, State Library of South Australia and SA Health Museum collection.  Copies of all newspaper articles and other relevant documents are available on request).