Albert Ward was one of the original wards established when the Adelaide Hospital opened in 1856. While it didn’t play a special role in medical history, Albert Ward offers insight into the day-to-day workings of one of the early wards of Adelaide Hospital.
Location and Layout
Named after Prince Albert, consort of Queen Victoria, Albert Ward sat on the southern side of the hospital’s West Wing. Albert Ward, along with Adelaide Ward, formed part of the original ‘Floor’ wards and primarily treated male patients, often injured in accidents. When opened the West Wing had eight wards, seven for male patients and one for women. Each ward held 18 beds in a long narrow space about 60 feet by 22 feet. A small recess at one end allowed for three additional beds. Nurses’ accommodation was nearby for easy accessibility to the ward.
Albert Ward is highlighted in yellow.
The ward had a single entrance, two fireplaces for heating, and sash windows along the side and rear for ventilation. Two circular pivot windows provided extra airflow. There were no internal toilets, instead male patients used two toilets near the entrance of the wing. A slop sink originally placed in the middle of the room was removed in 1880s due to complaints about mess and odour. It was replaced by a central table and bench. The photographs of Albert Ward (1889) below, show the central table and bench.
As demand for hospital beds grew, Albert Ward’s capacity increased. By 1878, Adelaide and Albert Wards jointly housed 54 patients, double the original number. The floor, originally made of Singapore cedar, was later considered for replacement with the more durable and local Kauri pine.
‘Possum’ Annex
Attached to Albert Ward was a galvanised iron annex known informally as ‘Possum’. This open-air structure accommodated up to six long stay male patients, often young men recovering from limb injuries following vehicle accidents.
Nurses unfamiliar with the ward were often confused by the instructions to ‘sponge Possum’ only to discover it referred to washing the patients in the annex. During summer, staff hosed out the annex’s asphalt floor daily, while roll-up canvas blinds protected patients from the weather.
So the joy of getting out into fresh air, into Possum! It was wonderful. It was an open-fronted shed, rather a breezy place. They used to hose the bitumen out every morning.”
Victor Carpenter (Works Inspector 1962-1984), 2001, Oral History
Life and Activity in Albert
Albert Ward saw a constant stream of long stay patients, often requiring extended care. In 1892, nurses donated a piano to help pass the time, and ward regularly hosted concerts. .Patients welcomed the distraction and change of routine.
During the 1896 ‘Hospital Row’, a dispute between the hospital staff and the government, patient numbers in Albert Ward dropped dramatically. A ward that was always full had just six patients. In 1928, concerns were raised about pest nesting behind wooden linen cupboards, requiring the ward to be fumigated. In 1937, the hospital repainted the ward a soft duck egg blue, considered more restful for patients than harsh white. Around the same time, volunteers from the Postal Electricians Union installed wireless radios free of charge, providing audio entertainment via headphones.
Bed Numbers:
By 1928, Albert Ward had a total of 22 beds: 16 located inside and another six in the outdoor annex known as ‘Possum’. Two Honorary Surgeons managed the ward: Mr Burnell oversaw 14 beds and Mr West managed eight. While the standard number of patients sat at 22, the ward’s maximum capacity reached 30 when needed.
In 1947, the ward’s layout and staffing remained largely unchanged. It still held 22 beds, plus 6 beds in possum and continued to support a surgical focus. Mr Burnell retained four beds, joined by Mr Hobbs and McEachern, who also had four beds each under their care. Orthopaedic surgery used six beds and assistant orthopaedic surgeons reserved two. Honorary surgeons typically made their rounds on Tuesdays and Fridays, maintaining consistent oversight of patients.
Later Years and Closure
During World War II, Albert Ward was renamed ‘Emergency Ward No 2’ and designated for air raid casualties. The anticipated surge never came, and it soon resumed regular duties.
In the post war years, efforts to modernise the ward continued. In 1960 engineers recommended installing air-conditioning to help reduce the risk of cross infection, despite some opposition from the medical staff. Engineers designed the air-conditioning system to be relocatable, particularly with the upcoming redevelopment of the hospital site.
Albert Ward highlighted in yellow
Albert Ward closed in 1962 and was demolished the following year during a major hospital redevelopment. By then, it had served the Adelaide Hospital for more than a century.
Written by Margot Way, CALHN Health Museum