The Government Sanatorium
In the Bay of Plenty Times of 11.3.1884 is written a description of the
Sanatorium, opened by Dr Alfred Ginders in December of 1883.
Excerpt: ‘New
Township of Rotorua’ (from an occasional correspondent)link to Papers
Past.
"The next building of importance is the
Hospital, which is enclosed in a large square of about 6 acres. There are 3
large buildings, the principal of which is the refectory, containing a dining
hall…kitchen…scullery…pantry… also a large porch and entrance hall, with a
dispensary on one side and an office on the other. The front is richly ornamented; there is also a bell tower,
and a double massive concrete chimney for the hall and kitchen. There are also
two large detached buildings on each side of the hospital, for sleeping
accommodation for the patients… these rooms are all well-lit and ventilated,
with a large porch, concrete chimney, and the water supply is from
Whakarewarewa"
The correspondent describes the luxuriance of the
gardens and availability of the staff quarters including the Medical Officers
Residence and the Bath-keepers house separate from other accommodations.
He goes on… ‘A journey round to see the various baths
revealed the following: First is the celebrated bath known as Madame Rachel’s (beautiful
forever)….the next bath of special interest is that known as the Priest’s bath,
so named after Father Mahoney of Tauranga…. ‘A large bath (lately constructed)
which can accommodate 100 patients at once’ (“The Blue Bath” see previous blog
post on Health Benefits of Rotorua.) This was fed from the Oruawhata Spring.
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| The Blue Bath, Rotorua, New Zealand, by Burton Brothers studio, Alfred Burton. Te Papa (C.013437) |
In Dr Ginders own words published in the Ellsmere Guardian
of 9/5/1896 The
Thermal Springs District and the Government Sanatorium at Rotorua.
To read the whole article click on the link above.
A small excerpt: “The sanatorium reserve at Rotorua comprises
an area of some 50 acres, bounded on the north and east by the lake, and on the
west and south by the Township of Rotorua. Twelve years ago this was a howling
wilderness covered with Manuka scrub, and diversified only by clouds of steam
rising from the various hot springs. Here the adventurous invalid of that day
had to pitch his tent, and be satisfied with a hole in the ground for a bath;
and if the spring happened to be too hot for his purpose he probably had to dig
the hole for himself, and regulate the supply and temperature of the water to
the best of his hydraulic ability.”
"Regulations and Tariff 1896
1. Applications for admission of persons shall be addressed
to the Resident Medical Officer.
2. No person shall be admitted (unless in accordance with
Regulations 5, 6 and 7) except on the recommendation of the Hospital or
Charitable Aid Board of the district to which he belongs, or the Trustees of
the benevolent society or hospital of the town in which he lives."
There are 8 regulations in total. The tariff is set at 21 shillings
per week. (in today’s value approx. $1,388 NZD)
The stay of each patient is limited to 3 months, but the Resident
Medical Officer could at his discretion, extend the period to 6 months. Patients sent by the Charitable Aid Boards
could be admitted at one guinea per week, however not more than 3 free patients
could be resident at any one time. If
there were empty beds the RMO could admit suitable cases at the rate of 30
shillings per week.
Dr Ginders describes each bath, the colour of the water, its chemical makeup & benefits to the invalid and its location within the
reserve. He also describes two springs
or baths at Whakarewarewa.
His lengthy but detailed article also describes the region’s
other scenic and thermal attractions.
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| Government Sanatorium and Baths at Rotorua, circa 1910. Ref: 1/1-019914-G. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/23224274 |
