Hamilton arguably had the first specific and separate Isolation and Fever Ward in Australia. The 1897 building was several years ahead of the Fairfield Infectious Disease Hospital in Melbourne. The name Isolation and Fever Ward was a practical one. The only treatment available was to isolate the patient from others to prevent the spread of disease and all the diseases were accompanied by fever.
The main impetuous for the 1897 building was the fear of the 'bubonic plague' as there was an outbreak in India and considerable communication between that country and Australia. Just after the Queen Victoria building was completed there was an outbreak of the plague in Sydney but fortunately it did not reach Victoria. The main infectious diseases of the time were Typhoid Fever, Scarlett Fever, Diphtheria, Tuberculosis and Whooping Cough.
By 1934 better nurse's quarters were proposed as prior to that the nurse's slept in all weathers, on the verandahs sheltered by a canvas blind. In 1935 the Nurse's Quarters were added to the building. By the end of the 1930s, sulphur drugs had been introduced and vaccines for typhoid and diphtheria thus cutting dramatically the number of cases of these diseases. But soon there was an outbreak of a new infectious disease, poliomyelitis. Thus the new nurses' quarters was timely and the main patients from 1940 were those with polio, known as 'infantile paralysis'.
Most infectious diseases were under control by the 1950s and the odd infectious patient could be accommodated in the general hospital. Apart from polio the main disease was tuberculosis and a special hospital was built exclusively for that. Thus Queen Victoria Hospital was no longer needed as an isolation and fever hospital. With advances in medical treatment, a new group of citizens required accommodation. The elderly were surviving much longer and sometimes needed nursing care that their families could not provide. It was decided in 1952 to convert the building for nursing care and it was named Queen Victoria Cottages. The name was especially chosen as one that sounded warm and friendly. It lived up to its reputation as patients loved the homely atmosphere and they were cared for by devoted staff. It was a special place.
In 1994 new aged care facilities were available to accommodate nursing care patients and once again the Queen Victoria Cottages building was without purpose. A special ceremony was performed to mark the closing of the centre. This was attended by Queen Vic. staff both present and past, general hospital management and other staff, former Isolation Ward patients and interested members of the public.
The hospital buildings were used as storerooms and as the Staff Social Club for the next several years until a decision was made to convert to the Frances Hewett Community Centre.
On December 8, 2000, the new building was officially opened by the Minister of Health, Bronwyn Pike: The Frances Hewett Community Centre.
Awarded an MBE in 1975 in recognition of her service – at the time Frances Hewett was Hamilton’s first lady and only female councillor. First elected in 1957, she served two terms as Mayor (1965 to 1967).
Mrs Hewett maintained an enormous interest in the cultural life of the district through her involvement with the National Trust, the Hamilton Art Gallery, Library and various concert committees.
Mrs Hewett had a reputation as a musician and music teacher and many of her students advanced to further studies at the Melbourne Conservatorium.
The Frances Hewett Community Centre offers a range of health and community services on behalf of the Western District Health Services..