The Archives

• A history of the public hospital in Wellington+
  • The Children’s Hospital
  • Additions 1913 – 1939
  • Additions 1940 – 1960+
    • The Centenary Block
    • The Hospital Post Office
    • The Hospital in the 1950s
  • The Thorndon Hospitals
  • The first Newtown Hospital
  • Early expansion 1888 – 1910+
    • 1901 – 1906
    • 1907 – 1910
• The Early Staff of the Hospital
• Nursing Administration+
  • 1880-1920+
    • Mary Anne Baillie
    • Elizabeth Hermansen
    • Mrs Johanne M Thorpe
    • Mrs Bernard Moore
    • Ellen Dougherty
    • Augusta Godfrey
    • Mary E Kissling
    • Frances K Payne
    • Ellen Mary Pettit
    • Kate Marsden
    • Elizabeth Katherine Berry
    • Edith Crerar
    • Sarah Jane Hetherington ARRC
    • Elizabeth Williamina Inglis Stott
    • Jean Todd
    • Maggie Preston
  • 1921 – 1960+
    • Edith P Tennent
    • Gertrude S Lampp

1921 – 1960

During this period a number of successive Matrons acquired Diplomas of Nursing which were designed to better equip the holders for positions of responsibility.

Staff numbers increased fairly rapidly as can be seen in this photograph from the 1930s.

From 1944, after the opening of Hutt Hospital, the position of Matron-in-Chief was created. This title indicated over-arching responsibility for the Wellington Hospital Board’s institutions, and generally there were simultaneously employed Matrons of each of these institutions, in some instances having the title of Principal Nurse.