Some people may find content on this website distressing. Read more
South Australia - Organisation

McBride Maternity Hospital (1914 - 1975)

  • McBride Hospital, Medindie

    McBride Hospital, Medindie, January 1914, courtesy of State Library of South Australia.
    Details

From
1914
To
1975
Categories
Adoption Agency, Convalescent Home, Home, Hospital, Maternity Home and Salvation Army
Alternative Names
  • McBride Lying in Home (Also known as)
  • McBride's Maternity Hospital (Also known as)

The McBride Maternity Hospital was opened by the Salvation Army in Medindie in 1914. It took over the work of the Adelaide Maternity Home and provided accommodation and maternity services for single mothers and their babies, as well as public maternity patients. Many babies were adopted out from the hospital. In 1974 McBride Maternity Hospital ceased to operate exclusively as a maternity hospital and in 1975 was renamed McBride Hospital.

Details

The McBride Maternity Hospital was opened by the Salvation Army on 28 January 1914 in Briar Avenue in the suburb of Medindie. The centre took over the work of the city based Adelaide Maternity Home. It was named for Mr RJ McBride, a prosperous grazier with property at Kooringa, near Burra. He had contributed £3000 to assist in the purchase of the two-storey mansion known as The Briars. The size of the premises allowed the Salvation Army not only to provide accommodation and care for single mothers and their babies, but also to offer a private maternity hospital service to the general public. This additional service helped to raise well-needed funds allowing the Army to continue its care of the needy. The hospital was also recognised as a training centre for obstetric nursing. In 1919 the birth of quadruplets made the news and donations were collected through The Register newspaper for the three surviving babies.

Unmarried mothers who gave birth at McBride were expected to remain there for three months. During this time they received general antenatal and postnatal care as well as assistance in learning to care for their babies. It was an unwritten policy of the hospital that no woman was discharged from care until a home or 'situation' had been arranged for her and/or her baby. Many babies were adopted from McBride and shortly after the passing of a new Adoption Act in 1967, the hospital was registered as an official adoption agency. The Matron acted as the adoption officer.

With beds for fifty patients the hospital was often filled to capacity. However, by the 1970s alternative care was available for single pregnant women and demand decreased. In 1974 the hospital adapted to this new situation by also providing care for patients convalescing from surgery or major illness.

This new aspect of the institution's work became more and more important and, as the hospital was no longer exclusively a maternity hospital, in 1975 McBride Maternity Hospital changed its name to McBride Hospital.

Location

1914 - 1975
Location - McBride Maternity Hospital was situated at Briar Avenue, Medindie. Location: Medindie

Timeline

 1893 - 1914 Adelaide Maternity Home
       1914 - 1975 McBride Maternity Hospital
             1975 - 1986 McBride Hospital

Related Archival Series

Related Glossary Terms

Publications

Books

  • Kirkham, Lt-Col John C, Southern Soup-Soap-Salvation, a compendium of Salvation Army Social Services in the Australian Southern Territory, The Salvation Army Australia Southern Territory Territorial Archives and Museum, 2003. Details
  • Steer, Hedley, Social Salvation, Early development of the Social Wing of The Salvation Army, The Salvation Army, Adelaide. Details

Journals

  • War Cry: The Salvation Army Magazine, The Salvation Army Magazine 'War Cry' contains many articles relating to Children's Homes and other institutions run by the Salvation Army., The Salvation Army Australia, 1883 -. Details

Online Resources

Photos

McBride Hospital, Medindie
Title
McBride Hospital, Medindie
Type
Image
Date
January 1914
Source
State Library of South Australia

Details

Sources used to compile this entry: 'McBride Maternity Hospital: The Opening Ceremony', The Advertiser (Adelaide, South Australia), 30 January 1914, p. 10, http://nla.gov.au/nla,news-article5409642; George, Karen, Finding your own way, Nunkuwarrin Yunti of South Australia Inc., 2005, http://nunku.org.au/resources/; State Records of South Australia, 'Agency Details: GA2053 McBride Maternity Hospital, formerly Adelaide Maternity Home', in State Records of South Australia, ArchivesSearch, http://archives.sa.gov.au.

Prepared by: Karen George and Gary George