The concept for a dedicated hospital for children in the Transvaal began in October 1919 when members of the Johannesburg Branch of the National Council of Women (NCW) discussed the need at a gathering.

[1]: 1827  Two months later on 8 December 1919, the NCW met in Johannesburg and a resolution was passed to build a Children's Hospital which commemorates the deaths of Transvaal men during the First World War.

[1]: 1827 [2] A committee consisting of members of the Transvaal community was formed under Viscountess Buxton to help realise the idea of a 100-bed hospital with accommodation for medical staff and nurses.

[1]: 1827  Other organisations donated resulting in the naming of wards such as Red Cross, Musicians, Sunday Times, Primary Schools and Berlein.

[1]: 1827  More organisations such as mining companies, town councils from across the Witwatersrand, businesses and individuals donated money towards cots, theatres, medical and surgical equipment.

[2][4] The foundation stone was laid in December 1921 by the Governor-General, Prince Arthur of Connaught with the hospital officially opened on 29 October 1923 and the first patient arrived on 3 November 1923.

[2] In the centre of the main building, there is a memorial hall with bronze plaques lit by skylights that commemorate those who have endowed money for cots and two altars with scrolls dedicating the names of some of the men of the Transvaal who lost their lives during the First World War.

[2] In the central blocks, the ground floor contained the admission and casualty section dispensary, small lecture theatre, staff room and administrative offices.

[1]: 1827  The upper floors on this block contained the operating theatres, X-ray department, physio-hydrotherapy section and accommodation for the medical staff.

[5] In October 2013, the building at the site of Transvaal Memorial Hospital for Children received a blue plaque which acknowledged the historical significance to Johannesburg.