An historic timeline exploring and celebrating the long history of Canterbury District Memorial Hospital.
 

1910 – The residents of Canterbury District initiated a movement for the establishment of a hospital to serve the local area.

1927 – Land for a hospital at Canterbury was acquired by the Ministry for Public Works with a foundation stone laid by the Minister for Public Health, RJ Stuart-Robertson MLA in October that year. One thousand people attended the ceremony including community and fundraising committee leaders. The Inter-war Colonial Revival and Spanish mission style building building was designed by the Government Architect's Office under the direction of Richard McDonald Seymour Wells.

The Administration Building is constructed in the style of Inter War 'Italianate' influenced Colonial Revival Architecture and is believed to be the only hospital constructed by the NSW Public Works Department in this style. 

1929 – The Hospital was officially opened on 26 October 1929 by the Secretary of Public Works, Ernest Buttenshaw. The Hospital was originally built to accommodate 28 patients in a population of 70,000 people.

In the first year 587 patients were admitted and by 1933 the number had risen to 1083 patients a year. Patients who could afford to pay were charged seven shillings and three pence per day while patients unable to pay were treated for free. There were also 12,001 outpatient attendances.

1932 – Canterbury District Memorial Hospital was listed in the General Hospitals category as a training school recognised by the Nurses' Registration Board of New South Wales.

1934 – Outpatients department constructed.

In 1936, the local public schools donated more than 3000 eggs and more than 800 pounds of potatoes to the hospital.

1943 – Canterbury Hospital had 98 beds and this rose to 210 beds in 1965 with several additions to the original buildings. A new wing, Thorncraft House, recognised the tireless services of Alderman Herbert Thorncraft who was president of the Board of Directors for 11 years and patron of the hospital until his death in 1975. 
 

1954 – New maternity unit completed.

In 1957, it was reported that there had been 95,106 outpatient attendances, 1641 babies delivered, and 4527 inpatients treated.

– NSW Hospital Commission Annual Report, 1957

1965 – When the Hospital opened it was staffed by three dentists and nine specialist consultants. Casualty was staffed on a roster basis by 33 general practitioners who worked in the district. There were no X-ray or pathology services, these were provided by private practices. All doctors were appointed as honoraries and provided free treatment to patients without the means to pay hospital charges. The doctors formed the Canterbury-Bankstown Medical Association.

1972 – Canterbury District Memorial Hospital was renamed Canterbury Hospital. 

1986 – With the introduction of Area Health Services to Sydney, Canterbury Hospital became part of the Lang Area Health Service along with Bankstown and Auburn Hospitals. The boundaries of the area health services changed several times over the next ten years and in August 1995 the Hospital became part of the Central Sydney Area Health Service.
 

1996 – Canterbury Hospital commences redevelopment following a public campaign to save it from closure. 

Canterbury Hurlstone Park RSL Club donated $500,000 over five years towards the operating theatres.

– Annual Report, 1997

1998 – The multi-million dollar redevelopment of the Hospital was officially opened in 1998. The new Hospital included 215 beds, a 24-hour emergency unit, additional operating theatres, a new community health centre and modern diagnostic facilities.
 

2020 - In December 2020, works were completed on a $6.5 million upgrade to the Emergency Department.

2023 – Canterbury Hospital to undergo $350 million redevelopment to expand the facility and deliver upgrades to existing infrastructure with an expected completion date of 2028.