Wooroloo Sanitorium 1915
The Wooroloo Sanatorium
Wooroloo Sanatorium, in the Darling Ranges of Western Australia, was established by the State Government in response to the infectious diseases, such as typhoid, diphtheria, and tuberculosis, that was widely prevalent in the aftermath of the mass migration that came as a result of the gold rushes in Western Australia in the early part of the twentieth century. The official opening was on the 1st of May 1915. Emphasis was placed on the treatment of tuberculosis through the provision of fresh air and sunlight. Patients with silicosis were relocated from the Coolgardie Sanatorium to Wooroloo when the Coolgardie sanatorium was closed down. The Coolgardie Sanatorium was the first sanatorium in Western Australia to treat TB Patients.
By the 1960s, the sanatorium was no longer required and the institution was operated as a geriatric and a district hospital. The Wooroloo Sanatorium was subsequently converted to a minimum security prison for short-term offenders after the Prisons Department officially acquired the site in April 1970.
The former sanatorium itself occupies a band of land between the Great Eastern Highway and the pipeline for the Goldfields Water Supply. It stands on the slopes of Beechina Hill above the Linley Valley and Wooroloo Creek.
The Wooroloo Cemetery is located midway between the former sanatorium and the township of Wooroloo.
For further reading on the history of the sanatorium, you can go to the http://slwa.wordpress.com/2008/01/02/interesting-places-wooroloo-sanitorium/
The above link will also take you to a website that has photographs of the headstones in the Wooroloo Cemetery. The Cemetery has the burials of 78 Goldfields people. They would have been sent to the sanatorium for treatment and many died there never having seen their families again.
This link will take you to a page that show the people from the Goldfields who are buried in the Woroloo Cemetery: https://www.outbackfamilyhistory.com.au/records/record.php?record_id=634
Staff at Wooroloo Sanitorium, August 1941 – Photo SLWA
Moya Sharp
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Looking for my G/G Father,who died of TB in Wooroloo Sanatorium i on 3 April 1916,I am his G/ G / Son ,Albertus John Lang ,any Details or information would be Very Greatfull ,Many thanks Mr Albertus John Lang .
Hi My name is Adalene Williams and I’m looking for a picture or photos of an old man whose name is (alias William Roberts ) who died in wooroloo hospital in 16 March 1966 but he is known by family in Queensland as Charles Baird he never did make it back to Queensland were he left behind another and one and only brother Norman Baird if his name is listed could it be possible if you can email me thanks again for your help
Hi Adelena So sorry but cant find any thing on him in my records.
Hi Moya, I was wondering if you have any information on a Connie (Constance) France who resided in woorooloo sanitorium from 1942 to 1944 where she died. Connie was my grandmother. Thank you kindly.
Hi Moya. My second cousin Maxwell Keith Cadlolo born Kalgoorlie 1913 spent his last days here in the Wooroloo Sanatorium in 1949. His mother, Ann Cadlolo nee Andrews, my 1st cousin 4x removed, is also listed as dying somewhere in Wooloroo in 1927. Any information on these people would be gladly received. Thanks, Julie Fuller
Hi Julie I think that both Annie and Maxwell died at Wooroloo but they are both in the Karakatta Cemetery, Maxwell was a cremation and Anne a burial if these are the correct people.
Here is the search page:- http://www2.mcb.wa.gov.au/NameSearch/search.php
Just put in the surname only and it will bring them all up. Just click on to the name and it will bring up all the details.
I just like to say keep up the good woork an i love looming up oud stuff like this just a shame i was nver smart inuff toa k in to uin
Thanks Peiter, Im glad you like the stories!
Hi Moya, Could you please suggest where I might find a patient list. My Great Grandmother Edith Broadhurst died of TB in 1921
and I believe she spent some time at Sanatorium and I have a photo of some nurses. Thanks for this post abt the Sanatorium it is most interesting. Regards Brenda
Hi Brenda Im afraid I dont know if any patient list but I ma sure they will exist. I would s=try in the Battye or the State library in Perth. You can search many of their records online.
Hi Moya, My maternal grandmother, Elizabeth Annie Stacey, started her nursing at Wooroloo in the year 1925.
I cannot get any details of when she started and then was transferred to Kalgoorlie. Are you able to assist by directing me to the correct search engine, or do you have a list of staff from the time the sanitarium was open to when it was closed? Any assistance would be appreciated. Thank you.
Hi Wendy
No Im sorry I dont have any particulars of staff at the sanitarium. I would say the best idea would be the State Library which I am sure will have some information.
My great grandfather Albert Edward (Ted) ALLEN died of TB in Woorooloo Hospital on 22/4/1918 and was buried in the Woorooloo Private Cemetery on 23/4/1918.
any information about my mother Elizabeth hilda Honor Harmer please. she was a patient at Wooroloo, mid February 1951 til March 1952, after having surgury in Perth. She had the top right lung lobe removed and is still alive and just turned 92. we all live in the UKnow.
Hi Moyà, my great, great aunt, Nellie May Busch died in the sanatorium in 1918 and her funeral notice stated that she was interred in the Wooroloo Cemetery. Do you have any record of her? I have been unable to find her grave. Thanks for this article, it was most interesting. Chris
Hi Chris I have checked the register and have found her there but with very limited details as follows:-
N M Busch Roman Catholic Sec Grave 79
Thats all Im afraid
Thank you so much Moyà. At least I have a definite now, much appreciated. Chris
Hi Moya, hope you can help, I looking for information on my great uncle Frederick Lionel Criddle, he lived at Rockwell near Geraldton. Frederick died on the 11th December 1942 age 39 in the death notice in the news papers it said he died at Wooroloo. A patient suffered now at rest. I wondering if he had cancer and died at the Wooroloo Hospital, his buried at Karrakatta Cemetery with his sister Lila (Leila) Douglas.
Kind regards
Julie Lee
Dear Julie If he was at Wooroloo he most likely had Pbthisis/Silicosis or ‘Miner Lung’as it was often called. Wooroloo was classed as a Sanitorium and treated these sort of cases.
You might like this story: https://www.outbackfamilyhistoryblog.com/2014/07/14/wooroloo-sanatorium/
My name is Elizabeth Pickett.
My fathers cousin Ethel Lochhead was the Matron of Woorooloo Hospital during the 40’s 50’s and possibly some of the 60’s. I certainly remember visiting her there during the 50’s and early 60’s. I was only a little girl at the time.. She was awarded either an OBE or MBE for her services to nursing particularly of the tubuculosis patients.
This is very interesting as I believe it is possible that my great grandfather, Charles August Thomas Weiland, was a patient there. He died 22 November 1918 of miners disease and is buried at the Wooroloo Cemetery. His marriage certificate is stamped by the Mine Workers’ Relief Fund (Inc). I wrote to the Dept of Mines in Kalgoorlie back in 1993 for any information that they might have on him. Whilst they were not able to respond with any personal information, they did outline the process of the Relief Fund or as they called it back in the day, ‘Old Voluntary Fund’. I know he received a payout because my great grandmother purchased a home in West Leederville and also set her son up in a barbers shop (possibly in London Court, Perth).
Hi Raelene I have a friend who is very knowledgeable about the men who contracted ‘Miners Lung’. I have passes on your comments to her to see if she may have any details on him for you.
I can still remember visiting my Great Grandmother at Wooroloo I would say very early 60’s. I loved her dearly and was fascinated by these beautiful green stone earrings she wore & Nanna promised me these earrings but unfortunately she lost one in shower.
We would visit her once a month on a Sunday and always had a picnic lunch garden area of the hospital.
A great source of information and thanks. I was born in the Wooroloo Hospital in 1965 – my parents lived in Wundowie. Ive always told people I was born in prison – as a reference to the taking over of the place by WA Corrections – and also was told it was a leprosorium – perhaps a reference to TB?