COMPRISING medical and surgical artefacts dating back to the 1870s, the Hamilton Base Hospital Medical Museum is open by appointment to those who are welcome to browse the exhibition and take a medical step back in time.

Retired pathologist, Dr Elizabeth Arthur is the honorary curator and has been for the last 40 years at the museum which is open each Wednesday between 11am-6pm by appointment.

“It’s a vast display of beautiful items,” Dr Arthur said.

“I’m constantly accepting things – I only accept items that have been used at the Hamilton Hospital – that’s what’s relevant here and that’s what’s important.

“It’s a labour of love.

“The main thing is to finish cataloguing the thousands of items.”

The museum boasts medical, surgical, radiology and nursing historical artefacts that relate to the function of the hospital.

In Dr Arthur’s office is a glass cabinet with an array of historic implements.

“We’ve got these (metal) masks that used to be used for an anaesthetic – they put cotton wool in them with chloroform.

“The surgical instruments haven’t changed a tremendous amount.”

There is also a large archive of medical, surgical and nursing books, other printed material and documents relating to multiple disciplines.

“We’ve also got hospital registers - registers of inpatients from 1870.

“We have the plans from the very first hospital which is quite extraordinary.”

Dr Arthur said she gets calls and emails from all around the world.

“I get contacted from people who think they might have a forebear who died in the Hamilton Hospital and – not always can I find it but sometimes you can – it’s quite exciting really when you go back 100 years.”

It has an extensive display of photographs plus original building plans dating back to the first hospital together with subsequent plans of new and renovated buildings with the overall collection an extremely valuable asset for the hospital and the Western District.

Dr Arthur said anyone was welcome to partake in the history walk along the corridor of the hospital before having a look at the items exhibited in her office.

“I often have groups coming in,” Dr Arthur said.

“It’s a very important collection - by appointment anyone is welcome.”

Dr Arthur is presently writing a detailed history of the Hamilton Base Hospital.