Entrance to the Queen Mary Hospital at Hanmer Springs. The hosital dates from 1897 although the medicinal value of the springs dates from the 1880s.
The Queen Mary Hospital in Hanmer Springs on New Zealand's South Island was declared a reserve in 1860 and became nationally known as a NZ government spa and resort after the baths were built in the same year. Hanmer benefitted from the alpine air of the region. A sanatorium was opened in 1897. This burned down in 1914 but was rebuilt and reopened as The Queen Mary Hospital for sick and wounded soldiers in 1916. It had a special unit for shell shocked soldiers. In 1926 facility for women with nervous disorders was opened. A nurses hostel was built in 1928. The soldiers block was upgraded during WW2 to care for returning servicemen. In 1960 control of Queen Marys went to the Division of Mental Hygiene for the treatment of drug and alcohol dependency. The hospital fianlly closed in 2003 when the Government withdrew funding. In 2010 community and Council efforts took over the site. The site and buildings, 3 of historical significance, passed to Hurunui District Council who manage the historic reserve. Visitors have free entry to the well maintaned grounds and can get close up to loo at the buildings.
Size: 4288px × 2848px
Location: Queen Mary Hospital Hanmer Springs South Island New Zealand
Photo credit: © Brian Hartshorn / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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