The Queen Victoria Memorial Hospital (initially called Victoria Hospital) was founded in 1896 by Constance, Clara and Mary Page Stone; Lilian Alexander; Amy Castilla; Freda Gamble; Janet Lindsay Greig; Ida Gertrude Halley; Jane Greig; Bertha Main; and Helen Sexton. It was one of three hospitals in the world founded, managed and run by women, for women.

Originally the hospital was an outpatients clinic run from the Sunday School building of St David’s Welch Church (where Constance’s husband Egryn Jones was minister) on La Trobe St. Funding came from a private donation of two pounds (roughly $1600 today).

The Queen Victoria Women's Hospital - 1930's

The women’s clinic was a huge success, attracting over 2000 patients in its first three months. Women flocked from all over Victoria, with many travelling from ‘up country’, to see a female doctor.

It became clear that there was a real need for a dedicated women’s health service in Melbourne and a Provisional Committee, led by suffragette Annette Bear-Crawford, was created to raise funds so the clinic could expand premises. In 1897 the Shilling Fund – where every woman in the colony of Victoria was asked to donate one shilling (roughly $40 today) – was launched to coincide with the Silver Jubilee of Queen Victoria.

Enough funds were raised for the hospital to buy the old Governess’ Institute at Mint Place in 1899. The Queen Victoria Memorial Hospital was a huge triumph and a major step forward for women’s health and women’s rights.

Its success meant that expansion was inevitable and in 1946, the hospital moved to Lonsdale St (the current site of the QVWC). In its first year 2953 babies were born and the staff treated 158 inpatients – a major feat considering there were only eight beds – and 4000 outpatients (many of whom were World War II soldiers).

By 1956, the structure of the hospital building was becoming unsound and there was a shortage of female doctors so male resident doctors were employed. Then, in 1963, the QV Women’s Hospital affiliated with the Monash Medical Faculty – by then there were only two women on the Board – and started taking male patients. It then amalgamated with McCulloch House, Jessie McPherson Community Hospital to form the Queen Victoria Medical Centre, which pioneered In Vitro Fertilisation, along with the Royal Women’s Hospital. 

In 1982, the Victorian Government announced plans to relocate the QV Medical Centre to the Monash Medical Centre in Clayton, Melbourne; demolish all buildings in the Lonsdale St and Swanston St block; and sell the land. The QV Medical Centre was relocated to Clayton in 1989.

Throughout it’s proud history the 'Queen Vic' Memorial Hospital was a feminist tribute to the spirit and determination of women working together. Its relocation was the end of an era in women’s history.

Or was it? Read more about how the community campaigned to preserve a part of the QV Memorial Hospital site.