A Block

The first buildings built at the Quarantine Station was the administration and doctors rooms, along with a row of “wards”. These buildings were the first built on the station in 1886.

The main building, or Ward A, housed the hospital dispensary, doctors surgery, a small dining room and accommodation for medical staff.  The other wards were used by other patients or contacts of passengers and crew.

All other passengers arriving at the station were housed in large canvas tents. It wasn’t until 1901 when the Isolation (‘Plague’) Hospital was built, and even later in the 1920s when additional buildings were constructed for passenger accommodation.

These rooms were always kept spotless and clean, ready for the next ship to be sent to quarantine with a new group of sick passengers to look after.

West Australian Newspaper, Friday 9 August 1889 p.3.

Woodman’s point, situated about six miles (9km) from Fremantle, is known to most people in the colony, as being the resort of the Fremantle sporting fraternity on the occasion of their New Year’s meeting, and few are aware of the existence of the building, known as the West Australian Quarantine Station. A substantial wall stretching from sea to sea, enclose the Point, and is the only outward sign from the land to do with the site of the building.

Almost in the centre of the grounds, compactly built and of plain architecture, stands the future domicile of those who may have the misfortune to meet with disease on their journey to our shores. Surrounded by a large veranda, it gives one an idea of a private residence rather than of a public institution, and an inspection of the interior increases the supposition that the comfort of the inmates has been a first consideration with its designers.

The visit made by the writer was totally unexpected, yet not a particle of dirt was observed in any of the rooms, the carpets were carefully folded to prevent the accumulation of dust, the blinds were kept in such a position as to stop the inroad of trouble insects, the rooms appeared clean and cool, while the necessary utensils for cooking, bathing and fumigating were in their respective places, ready for immediate use, thus showing that the Government had made every preparation for emergencies in the arrival of sea-going passengers suffering from infectious disease and requiring temporary isolation.

There are two large and spacious bedrooms, each containing four beds, situated on each side of the property, adequately furnished with every convenience, one for the occupation of saloon passengers, one room being for males and the other for females. Adjoining and separated by a wide and covered passage is the dining room, drawing room with lounges, tables, large fire places, bay windows. Away from the main building is the caretaker’s apartments, store room stocked with knives and forks, crockery, glassware, bedding, blankets and the other necessary furnishings all carefully packed; then the kitchen with a large fire grate, a brick oven which has never been used, lengthy tables, dressers and every requisite for the culinary department. There is also an additional room in which is stored necessary articles…a consulting room…with medical necessities, and also a fumigating room fitted with a cavity for the sulphur pans.