Timeline: Royal South Sydney

Royal South Sydney Hospital was named the South Sydney Hospital from 1913 - 1917. It became Royal South Sydney Hospital in 1917 - 1993.

Date	Event
1908	A public meeting at Redfern Town Hall elected Mr. James Joynton-Smith as Provisional President of a future public hospital to be established in the South Sydney district. This was a direct result of a concerted fund raising effort in the districts of Alexandria, Redfern, Waterloo, Mascot and Botany by racecourse owner Joynton-Smith. [See also Hotel Imperial, The Carrington]
1909	When two hectares became available through the efforts of Sir William Cooper, it was decided to construct a hospital of 25 beds, with provision for future expansion.
1909	On Trafalgar Day (21st October) Lord Chelmsford, KCMG, the Governor of NSW, opened the hospital with an unveiling of the foundation stone. [more information]
1911	First Presidential Report presented on May 8th. Architectural plans were adopted by the Committee in July.
1912	Call for tenders for the erection of Hospital Buildings on March 5th.
1913	The South Sydney Hospital was officially opened in August by His Excellency the Governor, Sir Gerald Strickland. [more information] Ms. M. Orrock appointed Director of Nursing.
1915	Several Committees established including House, General and Visiting, the latter responsible for 'practical improvements, sounder administration and higher efficiency'. Hospitals Advisory Board established by NSW Government, with the Minister for Public Health acting as regulator of all Hospital administration and maintenance.
1917	TIn December the Minister for Health advised the Hospital, on December 21st, that His Majesty the King had been pleased to confer the title "Royal" on South Sydney Hospital.
1918	Bed capacity was increased to 110 when verandahs were added to existing wards.
1919	Influenza outbreak saw RSSH 'being used solely as an Influenza hospital.'
1925	RSSH Women's Auxiliary inaugurated on June 5th.
1930	Annual Reports issued at the end of June, not December, by request of the NSW Hospital Commissioner, Mr R J Love.
1931	In February, the 'Younger Set' was inaugurated to help raise funds.
1932	A move to replace the Hospital's Industrial Fund with the Government Contribution Scheme was opposed by RSSH. Local factories contributed to the Industrial Fund, tying the Hospital to its local associations and loyalties.
1933	Dr L Parr established the first Rheumatology Clinic in NSW.
1935	The General Committee was replaced by a Board of Directors, in response to a new act of Parliament concerning the administration of Hospitals. The Committee was incensed, as there was no allowance for female directors to sit on the new Board.
1943	In October the Hon Sir James Joynton-Smith died. A marble statue to commemorate his achievements now stands in Primrose House, head offices of South Eastern Sydney Illawarra Health at Doll's Point.
1954	A Committee was set up to explore the possibilities of establishing a Rehabilitation Centre for disabled adults at the Hospital.
1956	A Pilot Rehabilitation Project was set up by Dr. Naomi Wing, Honorary Rheumatologist, funded by local industries. [more information] The RSSH Rehabilitation Centre pioneerd Occupational Rehabilitation in Australia. The Centre was established in disued Army huts bought by the Committee with staff salaries.
1958	In May the pilot project was taken over by the Hospitals Commission and maintained as a department of RSSH. Lady Slim, the wife of the Governor General of Australia Sir William Slim, presided at the official opening. [more information]
1959	Rehabilitation Committee established.
1963	Royal South Sydney Hospital began its association with The University of New South Wales as a teaching hospital on 1 October.
1969	The training of nurses at RSSH amalgamated with that of the Prince Henry and The Prince of Wales Hospitals. The Starr Committee reports to the State Government that RSSH should be designated a 'district' hospital, and not amalgamated, as it served a specific need within its local community.
1971	In April, the Minister for Health adopted a report regarding the establishment of a Regional Rehabilitation Service based at RSSH, and the introduction of an Industrial Mental Health Service for the local workforce. All developments were to be under the direction of the South Eastern Regional Officer of the Hospitals Commission, a forerunner to ESAHS.
1973	Regionalisation and rationalisation of hospitals begun by the Health Commission of NSW on April 30th.
1974	The RSSH Rehabilitation Committee dissolved itself, its task of raising funds for a Rehabilitation Unit finished.
1976	The army huts were replaced by the present buildings. Sir Roden Cutler, the Governor of NSW, opened The Naomi Wing Rehabilitation Centre, on November 5th.
1978	On June 30th, the Public Hospitals Act (Amended) replaced the title of Honorary Medical Officer with that of Visiting Medical Officer.
1979	The Women's Auxiliary was disbanded.
1980	In July the Rehabilitation Engineering Pilot program was begun in conjunction with the University of NSW.
1983	In January, the Department of Health officially recognised Rehabilitation Engineering as a hospital activity. The onsite Nurses' Home was closed.
1989	In July a Pilot Project in Rehabilitation Engineering was established to improve the quality of life and provide technical solutions for people with physical disabilities. This was the first project of its kind in an Australian hospital.
1990	RSSH continued to specialise in rehabilitation, orthopaedics and community health.
1991	In Spetember RSSH became part of The Prince Henry, The Prince of Wales and The Prince of Wales Children's Hospitals Group.
March 1993	Northern Sector Community Health Services, an entity under South Eastern Sydney Illawarra Health, maintained the site and ran Generalist Nursing services, Aged Care & Rehabilitation Teams, Early Childhood Services, Child & Family Services, the Health Promotion Service, Continence Clinic from the location. Other Health Services in operation at the site who leased space from Community Health include the area Orthotics Department, Hydrotherapy, Physiotherapy, Frail Aged Day Care Centre, SEALS, GP Liaison, Multicultural Communications, Area Employee Assistance Program, Division of General Practice, Drug and Alcohol Services, Area Auditors, Community Development, Information Services Division, Public Health Unit, Women’s Health Services, HIV and Related Diseases Unit, Publications Dept. The site was managed and maintained by Community Health Services up to March 2003 when South Sydney Council took possession.

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