As the custodians of the Toowoomba Hospital and Baillie Henderson Hospital historical collections, Toowoomba Hospital Foundation is embarking on an exciting new project that will see our region’s history of medicine and health care preserved in a permanent museum for the public to celebrate, learn, enjoy.
The collection of stories and objects will be presented in the house built in 1888 to house the first Medical Superintendent of the Toowoomba Lunatic Asylum, Dr James Hogg and his family. The residence was occupied by subsequent Medical Superintendents of what is now known as Baillie Henderson Hospital up to 2014.
Our Mission
The Museum of Health serves our society as a not-for-profit, permanent institution that strives to research, collect, conserve, interpret and exhibit tangible and intangible health heritage from antiquity in the area now called the Darling Downs.
Open to the public, accessible and inclusive, the Museum fosters diversity, sustainability, innovation, and distinction. It operates and communicates ethically, professionally and with the participation of our communities.
It offers rich, varied experiences for education, enjoyment, reflection, knowledge sharing, research, and advancement of health.
About the collection
The Museum of Health is focussed on stories from a collection considered nationally significant. This curated collection preserves the stories, instruments, artefacts, and flora that reflect the history of healthcare in the Darling Downs. By honouring the past, the Museum of Health sparks curiosity, conversation, and inspiration.
History of the Medical Superintendents House
Built in 1888 for first Medical Superintendent Dr James Hogg, the residence stands upon the land of the Jagera and Giabal people. It is a single storey masonry residence with a large hipped corrugated iron roof situated on Hogg Street away from the main hospital. In its original form the main portion of the house had a T-shaped symmetrical layout with verandahs to the north, south and east with a dining room, drawing room and two large bedrooms all with bay windows. Two small bedrooms were located at the rear of the house and a semi-detached kitchen and pantry on the southeastern corner was accessible from a verandah. A later timber wing was added to the northwest corner and a servant's bedroom and scullery was added to the kitchen in 1940.
About Toowoomba Hospital Foundation
Toowoomba Hospital Foundation is a non-profit, charitable organisation that raises funds to support the work of Darling Downs Health by buying important medical equipment, improving services, making facilities better, delivering patient care programs, fund research and support staff training.
The Foundation is incredibly proud to be the custodians of the significant historical collections that make up the Museum of Health. It is our aim for the Museum to promote wider knowledge of the history of general and mental health care and treatment in the Darling Downs region and, by doing so, inspire future generations to strive for greater achievements in health and health services.
The functions of the Museum are overseen by our Foundation Board in partnership with our Museum of Health Committee.
Find out how you can get involved!
There’s plenty of ways you can get involved in our Museum, from volunteering to joining our Committee.
Museum of Health Virtual Path
From path to present, names of those who have helped us showcase history.
DONNA TURNER
MACKIE /ROY
W & D
FAIRWEATHER
Lachlan Storey
Forever Young
