Royal Canberra Hospital implosion

Its staffing structure and organisation were thought to have been planned in step with population needs and the hospital was firmly and warmly placed in the memories and affections of many people.

After its formative years, it served Canberra for more than three decades as a first-class hospital staffed by hard-working, skilled and caring health workers.

On Friday 13 December 1996 the Prime Minister, John Howard, announced the design work on Acton Peninsula for the National Museum would begin immediately.

[2] The implosion of the Royal Canberra Hospital was a disaster, with large pieces of debris reaching spectators situated 500 metres away on the opposite side of the Lake at a designated safe viewing location.

The ACT Government led by Chief Minister Kate Carnell was subject to sustained criticism,[5][6] and a number of official inquiries were held.

It also failed to scrutinise departures from the original demolition workplans and to issue appropriate prohibition notices in accordance with the OH&S Act to ensure the methodology was safe, not only to the workplace employees but also to the public.