Celebrating 100 years of exceptional care

Each edition of Scope in our Centenary year will capture some of Mater's key historical moments. This edition reflects on the years between 1930 and 1989, which was a significant time of growth for Mater Hospitals, with the opening of Mater Children's Hospital and Mater Mothers' Hospital.

The Mater Story 1930 — 1989

July 1931

The new 80 bed Mater Children's Hospital was opened. Named after Mother Patrick Potter, the hospital, which was the first children's hospital south of the Brisbane River, treated over 8266 patients in its first year of operation.

1938

Brisbane Lawyer, John P Kelly, was appointed as Chairman of the newly established Mater Medical Board.

1940's

During the acute phase of World War II, a blood transfusion service was established at Mater Children's Hospital, in a first for Brisbane. Blood collected at Mater was flown to New Guinea and administered to the wounded.

May 1948

Mater Mothers' Hospital Foundation Stone was blessed by Cardinal Spellman of New York and Archbishop Duhig of Brisbane.

1949

Mater was recognised as a teaching hospital for doctors and became a clinical school for the University of Queensland's new Faculty of Medicine.

1954

Queensland's first Neurological Department was established at Mater, and eastern Australia's first "Eye Bank" also opened at Mater.

Dec 1960

The new Mater Mothers' Hospital was officially opened, accommodating for 140 mothers.

Feb 1961

Mater Mothers' Hospital welcomes its first babies. A further 2996 babies were born in the hospital's first year of operation. Also in this year, Mater Mothers' Hospital welcomes its first intake of midwifery students.

1967

John Cuskelly made history by being the first baby in Queensland to receive three blood transfusions in utero. John and his mother were Rh incompatible (when a baby's Rhesus positive blood conflicts with the mother's negative blood).

1968

A teaching research unit was built for Mater Mothers' Hospital.

1975

The Health Minister, Sir Llewellyn Edwards, announced A$18 million in government funding to rebuild Mater Adult Public Hospital.

1976

Mater's Intensive and Special Care Nurseries opened at Mater Mothers' Hospital.

1977

Mater Mothers' Hospital conducted the first retrieval in Queensland using former Queensland Premier, Sir Joh Bjelke-Peterson's plane. A baby, Brad Treadwell was retrieved from Charleville weighing just 1100 grams.

April 1978

The Neonatal Emergency Transport Service, NETS, was formally inaugurated when twins were transported from Toowoomba to Brisbane.

1978

The Multidisciplinary Growth & Development Clinic was opened.

1979

The first accommodation facility located at Mater was opened. To this day, the Reg Leonard House provides a home a way from home for regional and rural patients and their families.

1981

New Mater Adult Public Hospital was opened.

1981

Mater Children's Hospital Development Clinic was opened, to care for children with long term developmental problems.

Oct 1981

Mother Theresa visited Mater.

1982

John P Kelly Research Foundation was established.

1985

Mater was appointed official hospital for World Expo 88.

1986

Mater commenced provision of social and medical services for HIV/AIDS patients.

1987

Queensland's first paediatric sleep unit was established at Mater Children's Hospital.

1987

Mater Health Services Governing Board, empowered to develop policy and make decisions for the hospitals, replaced the Advisory Board. In response to the changing roles of the Sisters, and to develop succession planning, the first lay Chief Executive Officer, Mr Pat McGuire, was appointed.

1988

The Queensland Radium Institute at Mater was built.

1988

Plans for a new Mater Private Hospital were announced.

April 1989

Mater Hospitals' Trust (now called the Mater Foundation) was launched to raise community support to fund research projects, capital works and medical equipment.

Sept 1989

Mater Private Priority Emergency Centre was opened, the first in any Queensland private hospital.