From the archives

Here’s a look back on our 140-year history at some of the people and significant moments that have helped shape who we are today.

6 May 1933
The Dame Nellie Melba Bush Nursing Hospital opened at Lilydale (now our Bolton Clarke Lilydale home). Dame Nellie was an early supporter of our work and performed at a number of special fundraisers.

18 June 1938

Queensland Governor Sir Leslie Wilson officially opened Kingshome, Queensland’s first war veterans home. At around the same time, the District Nurses welcomed the first patients to their new After Care Home in Collingwood.

February 1947

Malcolm Newman handed over the key to his family property at Caboolture, today our contemporary Fernhill community.

5 April 1962

The first buildings of our Cunningham Villas home at Bowen were officially opened by Queensland Governor Sir Henry Abel Smith, pictured here with the first residents.

1 February 1970
The Queen Mother personally wrote to congratulate RDNS nurses for 85 years of service and initiating the inaugural International Congress on Domiciliary Nursing.