The Museum of Nursing History

The Museum of Nursing History at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital proudly showcases the rich history of nursing through a collection of photographs and memorabilia dating from the late 19th century. It provides a historic glimpse for past and present generations of nurses and midwives to reflect and remember nursing as it once was and how it has evolved over the decades.
The Museum’s historical collection includes historical photographs of nurses, groups and graduations, items of nursing and medical equipment, uniforms, caps, aprons and badges. It is run by a team of passionate former nurses and volunteers.
The current home of the Museum is the former Fever Ward, constructed in 1875 and now the oldest building remaining within the Hospital, which was established in 1867. It is adjacent to the former Female Ward (1885) and these two buildings are rare surviving examples of 19th century single storey pavilion plan ward buildings.
Pavilion plan wards, also known as Nightingale wards after supporter Florence Nightingale, developed in the context of theories that disease could be transmitted by breathing noxious vapours. The Fever Ward consisted of a rectangular open ward with rows of windows for ventilation.