[3][4] The Costley Home was a two story brick building with ornamental balustrades and a grand staircase.

[2][6] The standard of care in the Home was inadequate and after some mismanagement by the resident Master and Matron Dr Alexander McKelvey was appointed as the first Medical Superintendent in 1910.

[18] The Costley building was used for operating theatres and the casualty (emergency) department and housing geriatric patients on the upper floor.

[21] The development of cardiology and cardiothoracic surgery began at Green Lane with the appointment of surgeon Douglas Robb in 1942, cardiologist Edward Roche in 1944 and other medical specialists.

[23][24] During the early years of pioneering surgery the surgeons collaborated with the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) to develop surgical instruments and the Ruakura Animal Research Centre to develop and refine surgical procedures.

[23][26] The first successful surgery in New Zealand to correct a congenital heart condition patent ductus arteriosis, was performed in Wellington in 1944.

[29] In 1957 surgeon Brian Barratt-Boyes was recruited by Douglas Robb to join the team at Green Lane.

[30][31] To commemorate this milestone a kauri tree was planted in the hospital grounds and a plaque placed at its base.

[32] One hundred and ten by-pass operations had been performed by the end of 1960 and it was used for Tetralogy of Fallot, pulmonary stenosis, aortic and mitral valvotomies.

It was subsequently discovered that a few weeks before Barratt-Boyes's surgery the same procedure had been performed by Donald Ross at Guy's Hospital in London.

[38] Funds were spent to modify the intensive care facilities and to provide accommodation for patients who were required to stay for rehabilitation at the hospital after the surgery.

[23] Over the years there were many occasions when Green Lane staff made visits overseas to conferences and to work in hospitals.

[43][44] The Greenlane Clinical Centre is part of Te Whatu Ora Northern Region (formerly Auckland District Health Board).

[52] The CVRU, now based at Auckland City Hospital, and the GLCC continue to participate in international trials and publish study results.

[53] Centennial celebrations were held in 1990 and a memorial plaque was unveiled by the Minister of Health Helen Clark.