The 3 front blocks facing Union Road were subdivided off in circa 1967, so this building now faces Barton Street. Since 1984 it has been a private residence. It was originally built in c1890 and from 1896 it was used as facilities for Surrey College, a private boys' boarding school. Dr F Darling was Principal. From 1935-1960s it became Nethercourt Private Hospital. This had previously operated from 1921 in Wilson Street. Later it was known as St Jude's Hospital; this closed in 1983.Black and white photo of Nethercourt Private Hospital taken from Union Road. It shows a 3 storey brick rendered building painted in a light colour. It is fronted by a paling fence and with a vacant area in the foreground, on which there is a bare-leafed mature tree to the right and an evergreen tree to the left. The fence appears to be new suggesting that the photo was taken at the time of subdivision of the land.The original has the following inscriptions: Top: In black biro "D Hall our collection / hall / family" in Jocelyn Hall's writing. Below in lead pencil "Old entrance of / St Judes" - unknown hand; presumed to be Duncan Hall's. In black biro in Jocelyn Hall's hand: "Taken c. 1976." nethercourt private hospital, the surrey college, norwich hall, st judes hospital, barton street, medical services, education, dr f darling

Notes from a previous collection coordinator indicate that Miss Lucy Musselwhite (Lillywhite) opened the hospital in 1914 and Matron Eliza Tank took it over in 1921 and named it Nethercourt Private Hospital. However recent research suggests that Miss Musselwhite (name confirmed) moved from Tooronga to Wilson Street some time between 1903 and 1909. She and her mother Elizabeth are listed in the 1909 electoral rolls in Wilson Street and Lucy's occupation is given as nurse. (It is of course possible that the property was a residence only at this time and later opened as a private hospital.) The name Nethercourt was used prior to Matron Eliza Tank taking over. Her daughter Irene was also a nurse at Nethercourt. Lucy Musselwhite was born in 1873 in Hampshire. She married Henry James Dore in later life and lived in Brenbeal Street, Balwyn. She died in 1955. In 1930 / 1935 Matron Tank transferred the hospital to 219-223 Union Road. Later it was known as Norwich Hall / St Jude's. Mosgiel Hospital in Mont Albert Road also opened in 1924. After this time home births became less common. Nethercourt Hospital closed in the 1960s.Small hospitals such as this one were primarily used for midwifery, preceding the development of larger centralised general hospitals. Black and white photo of Nethercourt Private Hospital at 11 Wilson Street in c 1924 taken from the street in winter. The building is Victorian in style; block-fronted with lacework detail to the verandah and has 2 chimneys. It is set behind a wooden picket fence behind which is a well-manicured hedge which appears to have been grown across the front entrance gate.nethercourt private hospital, midwifery, hospitals, matron eliza tank, miss lucy musselwhite, miss irene tank, mrs irene anderson

In 1935 Mrs Eliza tank transferred her private hospital 'Nethercourt' from Wilson Street to 219-223 Union Road. She has operated it at the Wilson Street address from 1916. The Union Road building had originally been Surrey College, a boarding school for boys built in 1889 by Rev Dr Darling. It was not the success hoped for. In 1905 it briefly became Milverton College for girls, after which it was used as a nursing home or small private hospital. By the 1960s it was known as 'Norwich Hospital' and later still 'St Jude's'. It closed as a hospital in 1983. The land at the front facing Union Road was sub-divided off and the building became a private home fronting Barton Street. As a private residence it was rendered and painted.Black and white photo of a double-storey brick building with a tower. There is a veranda between the tower and one of the wings of the building. This is enclosed at the upper level. On one side there is an external set of stairs and an out building. The building is approached by a circular driveway. There are mature bushes in front of the building.On copy photo in lead pencil: "? No & if missing"; "This is a copy"; "595"nethercourt hospital, milverton college, matron eliza tank, norwich private hospital, rev darling, st judes private hospital, hospitals, surrey college

Surrey College was opened in early 1892 by Rev. Dr Frederick Darling who had been the first minister of the Presbyterian Church in Canterbury Road. He resigned this position to open the school which operated until 1908 with additional premises at 12 Vincent Street. The school had 40 boarders as well as day boys. Courses included algebra, euclid, history, typewriting, shorthand and drill. In the 1930s, Nethercourt Private Hospital took over the site. Later it became St Jude's Hospital. land in front of the building was subdivided off in the 1970s. The building is still extant as a private dwelling with York Street, Surrey Hills as the address. This is one of 3 photos donated by Susan Hobbs, whose grandfather Rev. George Edward Downton is thought to have been a student at the college. George E. Downton was born in Avoca in 1885. He was later a missionary in New Guinea and Secretary to the Australian Board of Missions in Adelaide. He died in 1926 or 1927. Sepia photo of 26 men and boys dressed in military uniform, many holding rifles. They are standing in front of a brick building with bay windows with blinds and curtains. There is a clump of foliage and grass in front of boys. "Surrey College - Surrey Hills / Principal: Rev Frdk. A. Darling, Melb. Univ./Cadet Corps, 1899." On the mount below the photo. Inscription on bottom right hand corner of photo: "Prepare for cavalry"schools, 1899, surrey hills, surrey college, rev frederick a darling, george edward downton, susan hobbs, union road, nethercourt hospital, st jude's hospital, 219-223 union road, cadet corps, 1890-1899

Surrey College was opened in early 1892 by Reverend Dr Frederick Darling who had been the first minister of the Presbyterian Church in Canterbury Road. He resigned this position to open the school which operated until 1905 with additional premises at 12 Vincent Street. The main building fronted 219-233 Union Road. The school had 40 boarders as well as day boys. Courses included algebra, euclid, history, typewriting, shorthand and drill. In the 1930s, Nethercourt Private Hospital took over the site. Later it became St Jude's Hospital. Land in front of the building was sub-divided off in the 1970s. The building is still extant as a private dwelling with York Street, Surrey Hills as the address. This is one of 3 photos donated by Susan Hobbs, whose grandfather Rev. George Edward Downton is thought to have been a student at the college. George E. Downton was born in Avoca in 1885. He was later a missionary in New Guinea and Secretary to the Australian Board of Missions in Adelaide. He died in 1926 or 1927. This photo is one of two that were originally in the Box Hill Historical Society collection. They were transferred to us in 2024. The third photo could not be located. There was also a rough family tree and notes for the Downton family with correspondence regarding the donation but this was not found.Sepia photograph on grey mount board of 15 men and boys. Eleven of the boys are dressed in whites, 5 wearing ties and 1 a bow tie, one with a boater and one with a cap. The boy seated on the right is holding a cricket bat and the boy seated on left is wearing cricket pads on his legs. There are stumps and bails in the middle of front row. Three young men are in suits and boaters with one in the back row holding items in his hands. On the right hand side of the back row is Reverend Frederick Darling, Principal of the College, who wears a top hat and tails. There is a brick building behind with windows and blinds, and some foliage and plants behind and in front of boys. "Surrey College - Surrey Hills/Principal: Rev Fredk. A Darling, Melb. Unib./Cricket Team, 1899"schools, sport, cricket, 1899, surrey hills, surrey college, rev frederick a darling, george edward downton, susan hobbs, union road, nethercourt hospital, st jude's hospital, 219-223 union road, york street, 1890-1899

Date is approximate. Most babies in Surrey Hills were born at home until c1922 and mothers were attended by local midwives. By 1924-1926 two private hospitals has been established in Surrey Hills and most births then occurred at either Mosgiel or Nethercourt Hospital. Donor, Margaret Thornton was a daughter of William and May Palstra; one of her daughters, Julia Thornton still lives in the house in 2024. Donation form signed by Julia Thornton. The house remains in 2024 with extensions to the rear and side.Black and white photo of one of the Palstra children, possibly William, as a baby nursed by a midwife seated on the brick balustrade of the verandah at the Palstra home at 60 Guildford Road, Surrey Hills.nursing, nurses, midwives, margaret palstra, margaret thornton, 1920-1930