Royal South Sydney Hospital

Initial efforts to open a hospital in South Sydney began in 1908 when fundraising efforts by local residents saw James Joynton Smith, local businessman and racecourse owner, elected as provisional president of a future hospital.

In 1917, the title of Royal was bestowed upon the hospital by the King, and capacity was expanded to 110 beds the following year.

In 1976, the present brick buildings were constructed and opened, and the hospital began to specialise in rehabilitation, orthopaedics and community health.

General hospital services, including (controversially) the emergency department[1] were slowly wound down until only community services operated from the location until 2003, when the hospital finally closed and the site was transferred to the South Sydney City Council (later, City of Sydney council).

The former nurses’ quarters was redeveloped into the Joynton Avenue Creative Centre, winning the Australian Institute of Architect’s NSW Architecture Medallion and officially opening in May 2018.