Mount Gambier Hospital, south-eastern South Australia, c.1870.

Albumen print photograph, carte de visite format, 63 x 103 mm; verso with a fully contemporary inscription in ink: ‘Mount gambier Hospitle‘; the print has lost some contrast but is otherwise in good condition, as is the mount.

This carte was sourced with others taken by travelling photographer J. T. Ginnings. However, the State Library of South Australia holds a very similar carte de visite view of the Mount Gambier Hospital that was taken about the same time by Joseph H. Nixon:

‘Photograph of the first Mount Gambier Hospital, which was established in 1869 and demolished in 1971. The building was designed by Government Architect Robert George Thomas between 1867-69. The hospital was built of stone in the Italian gothic style featuring towers and cloistered verandahs. The two storey stately building had two wings and was typical of the Victorian era with decorative dressings around the doors, windows, cupolas, large ornate chimneys and even featured a widow’s walk. The foundation stone was laid in February 1867 by James C Lyon’ (SLSA B11414).