17 February 2021

Some old-time isolation facilities (more #LostMelbourne). This is the late 1940s ward block at the Greenvale Sanatorium for #tuberculosis patients, way out in a then isolated spot because TB was infectious. It was built 1947-8, but not officially opened until 1950. Designed by the prolific #PercyEverett (the drawings are dated May 1946), it had long ‘balconies’, wider then the rooms themselves, which had screens instead of windows, since fresh air was the main treatment – but by the mid 50s improvements in antibiotics meant people got better faster and by 1962 it was no longer needed and was converted into a hospital for the elderly, losing its great horizontal expression. Closed in 98, it was vandalised, but proposed for #heritagelisting in 2005 – I did a report, but it didn’t get up, and was demolished. I was very surprised, thought it was a sure thing, particularly since I had also failed to protect its almost twin, built in Heatherton at the same time, and demolished in the 90s. There was a great nurses home there too. The ward blocks are clearly inspired by the very famous #PaimioSanatorium in Finland, also for TB, designed by Aalvar Aalto, and completed 1932.

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