The Victorian Free Gothic styled Nurses' Home, built for the purpose of housing Prince Alfred Hospital nursing staff, looks much the same as when it was constructed in 1892, with the original timber balustrades, sandstone features and dual-hung sash windows still in place today. It has been extended and redeveloped on several occasions, but still contains the original timber architraves, ceiling design features and cedar internal doors inside and stained glass external doors. Today, this building is known as the Kerry Packer Education Centre (KPEC), serving as the hospital’s central education facility. Head on inside (at Stop 7) to see the stained glass windows on and above the front door.

 

When the Queen Mary Nurses Home was completed in 1956, the old Nurses' Home was converted into a centre for Resident Medical Officers (RMOs) and a housing and teaching space for medical students. The ballroom was converted into the Susman Medical Library. The Nurses' Sitting Room was converted into the R. L. Harris Common Room, with comfortable Chesterfields for visiting medical officers (VMO's) staying onsite.

Through the generosity of Kerry Packer, a state-of-the-art education centre was built to fulfil the hospital's growing educational needs. The old nursing dining room was converted into a lecture theatre today called the John Greenaway Conference Room. Other rooms were refurbished as tutorial and seminar rooms, and the Kerry Packer Lecture Theatre, adjoining the new Clinical Services Building was opened in 2005. Today KPEC hosts meetings as small as four people and conferences as large as 200 people.

 

Over the years, I've photographed many events at the old RMO quarters, which of course, today we call KPEC. Everything from staff farewells, student events, and Easter and Christmas celebrations to visiting VIPs and major health announcements. We've hosted everyone from team and department reunions to the New South Wales Premier. It's a great space with such a deep history. I just love walking through those stained glass panelled front doors knowing the stories they could tell.

Sam Hubel, Audio Visual Services, Sydney Local Health District, 2022

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