Matron Matilda (“Mattie”) Browne 1880 - 1960

Matron Matilda Browne was one of the first qualified registered midwives trained at Fremantle Midwifery Training School in 1911.  She delivered more than 2800 babies at St Clair’s Hospital in Bunbury from 1913 to 1946.  To put that into context, Bunbury’s population in 1947 was 3726.  However, despite being well known in Bunbury, in later years she had to battle against WA Government Departments and Bunbury Council to keep her hospital running. (Reference)  (Reference)  (Reference) (Reference)

EARLY YEARS

Matilda (“Mattie”), born in Bridgewater, north central Victoria, was the second daughter of Michael and Elizabeth Browne (nee Sammers).  Her mother died when she was four and in 1890 Michael married Margaret Corbett at Sandhurst, Victoria and they had two more children.  (Reference)  (Reference)  (Reference)

1913 ESTABLISHING ST CLAIR’S HOSPITAL

The 1911 Health Act (WA) required all midwives to be trained and registered in order to eliminate backyard midwifery practices.  Mattie became one of the first to qualify at Fremantle Midwifery Training School in 1911 and to gain her midwifery registration.  She took over Nurse Kate Bruton’s Hospital, located on the corner of Clifton Street and Koombana Terrace, in 1913, having previously worked at Guy’s Maternity Hospital in Donnybrook.  Transcribed records from the WA Nurse’s Register 1919 - 1949 (courtesy Carnamah Historical Society) show that apart from a second stint at Guy’s Maternity Hospital in Donnybrook in 1925, she worked continually at St Clair’s Hospital, Bunbury.  (Reference)  (Reference)  (Reference)  (Reference)

The first baby to be born at St Clair’s Hospital (that was listed in the family notices in the newspapers of the time) was a daughter to Mr & Mrs Andrew McCormack of Capel on 2nd December 1913.  (Reference)

1919 - 1940 ST CLAIR’S EXPANSION

By 1919 St Clair’s had moved to the Lovegrove Avenue - Stockley Road extensive five acre site, a far superior location than that on Clifton Street. It was the former Bunbury Girls’ School and prior to that, Dr Lovegrove’s residence.  It was reported in the South Western Times of 5 April 1919 as “an attractive hospital that sits on a rise” with views “in all directions of grassland”.  A spotlessly clean building that had electric lights installed throughout.   It had an operating theatre, surgical ward, a maternity section and was able to accommodate up to 19 patients from the South West of WA.  (Reference) (Reference)

By 1930 a new wing was added and at the grand opening which was attended by many, Matron Browne sent out a request to the 1800 babies that had been born at St Clair’s since its formation in 1913, to plant a tree on the site.  As to the new building, it now housed an updated operating theatre complete with modern appliances, concentrating on surgical procedures. The old part of the hospital housed the maternity section. (Reference)

At the end of 1930, a year after the New York Stock Exchange crash, the depression had hit Bunbury, with WA’s unemployment rate 25%, an increase of 15% in a year.  Many married men with families were unemployed, some were living rough and relying on sustenance handouts, the earliest form of welfare.  Mayor of Bunbury at the time, J E Hands, formed a Sustenance Committee, whereby unemployed men worked on the roads in lieu of monetary relief. (Reference)  (Reference)

Matron Browne hosted some children of these unfortunate families for a special Christmas Eve entertainment on the grounds of St Clair’s and gave them a ride in a motor car around Bunbury town.   (Reference)

In 1940, the health inspector’s report showed that Bunbury had three private hospitals.  St John of God, accommodated 36 patients with 10 trained staff.  Stirling Hospital had a capacity for 14 patients, 3 trained staff and 2 probationers.  St Clair’s Hospital, a capacity of 25 patients, 3 trained staff and 2 probationers.  All three hospitals complained about the shortage of trained nurses.  (Reference)

1941 - 1948 BATTLE WITH GOVERNMENT

Reports from 1941 onwards that Bunbury's Senior School's buildings were in a poor state of repair, was the start of a long battle to keep St Clair’s operating.  The Department of Education had their eyes on Mattie's five acre block for the site of a new school.  Out of probable frustration, she wrote to the South Western Times and her letter was published in their 7 November 1941 edition.

“I wish once again to protest at the casual way a few interested people in Bunbury -  budding Hitlers - have dispersed of my  private affairs in regard to the school site. My freehold property is not for sale, nor has it ever been on the market."  Reference

Again a few years, Mattie’s supporters were fighting her cause and in a letter to The West Australian Editor in their 15 October 1943 edition, a concerned local stated:

“We are indeed in a sorry plight to be forced to close down a hospital with such a record as St Clair's, a hospital which so many of the women in the South-West have depended so much upon for the past 20 years and more, while on the outskirts of the town there are large vacant blocks of land far more suitable for a school. This quiet, peaceful spot is so comforting and soothing to the sick and during the past 20 years 2,600 babies were born there, with the loss of only one mother and she was beyond medical aid when admitted. I feel sure, if our members of Parliament only knew of the work carried on at this hospital they would not for one minute even think of closing it down. I appeal to my fellow-women and to the 2,600 mothers who were helped in their hour of need to make a stand and demand of the Government that St Clair's Hospital is not to be closed or interfered with.”   (Reference)  (Reference)

Complaints fell on deaf ears and the WA government acquired the land that St Clair’s was built on in 1943 and in 1945, as well as some surrounding properties. (Reference)  (Reference)

The last baby to be born at St Clair’s Hospital (that was listed in the family notices in the newspapers of the time) was a daughter, Ethel Marilyn, to Lillian & Charlie Turner of Capel on 2nd December 1946. (Reference)

1948 - 1954 ST CLAIR’S BECOMES A CONVALESCENT HOME

In 1948 Mattie was still running the hospital, but after turning 65 a couple of years earlier and unable to satisfy her midwifery registration requirements of appointing a sister-in-charge, she had to relinquish her registration and was no longer able to practice as a midwife.  She had converted the hospital to a convalescent home, but still wished for it to return to a maternity hospital.  After seven years, she was still battling with government bureaucracy whose solution for Mattie’s predicament was for her to open a maternity hospital in Albany! 

"It's a shame to think they can resume a beautiful home like this -  and just knock it down"  Reference

St Clair’s advertising in local newspapers ceased around 1946.  A few staff vacancy notices were submitted, but that stopped in 1950.

In 1954, Cr Paynton suggested St Clair’s site for the new Bunbury Town Hall.  It seems that everyone wanted a piece of St Clair’s!  However that was voted out in favour of Centenary Gardens.  (Reference) 

AFTER 1954 RETIREMENT

Mattie was listed in the 1958 Electoral Roll as still being at St Clair’s.  (Reference)

Matron Matilda Browne died on 16 June 1960 in Perth aged 81 and was buried at Karrakatta Cemetery.  (Reference)

St Clair’s Hospital was demolished in 1961 and Bunbury Primary School was later built on the site. (Reference: Bunbury Images People and Places by Phyllis Barnes IBSN 0957947615 Page 31)