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General News

27 November, 2020

Grab a piece of Tablelands history.

Tablelands residents are being given the opportunity to own a piece of history, with parts of the old nurses’ quarters at the Atherton Hospital being put up for auction.

By Phil Brandel

Atherton Friends president Di Williams and volunteer Bev Prescott playing the vintage Beale piano which is up for grabs.
Atherton Friends president Di Williams and volunteer Bev Prescott playing the vintage Beale piano which is up for grabs.


Tablelands residents are being given the opportunity to own a piece of history, with parts of the old nurses’ quarters at the Atherton Hospital having been salvaged and are now being put up for auction.


Atherton Hospital Acting Director of Nursing, Leonie Jennings, said the Atherton Hospital Redevelopment team had made it a priority to capture the past by salvaging recyclable items from the Primary Health Centre before it was demolished.


“An expert crew went through the building and removed French doors, arched and casement windows, balustrades and other items which have been donated to the Atherton Friends of the Hospital Foundation (FOF) for a community auction,” Ms Jennings said.


“I know how important this building was to the community but unfortunately it was financially impossible to preserve as part of the redevelopment as it was in very poor condition.


“This way the community will have the chance to take a piece of the old building home.”


Proceeds from the auction will go to help the fundraising group provide more equipment for health services in Atherton.
FOF president Dianne Williams expressed her gratitude to the health service for the donated items and said it was a wonderful way for the old Atherton Hospital buildings to be remembered and cherished.


“We’re all very excited about the new facilities being provided but it’s beautiful to be able to remember the special times that happened in the old buildings,” Mrs Williams said.

Among items to be auctioned are a board room table, dozens of doors and windows, other furniture and a vintage Beale piano.
Mrs Williams said the Beale piano was made some time between 1912-16.


“It is thought that Jim McConnell sold the piano for 80 pounds to the Atherton Hospital after his first wife Luisa died of the Spanish Flu. He had the piano shipped up from New South Wales and brought up to Atherton by horse and buggy,” she said.


The Auction will be held on November 28 at the cattle sheds at the Atherton Showgrounds.
Doors open and viewing will be from 8am, the auction will start at 10am.

A coffee van and food stalls will be present and after the auction, a cent sale will be held at the Merriland Hall.

 


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