History of St John of God Midland Public Hospital

The hospital replaced the former Swan District Hospital as the new major hospital serving the local community.

Our beginnings

In 2012 St John of God Health Care signed a 23 year public-private partnership agreement with the WA State Government to build and operate the hospital.

The $360 million hospital was jointly funded by the State and Commonwealth governments and St John of God Health Care fully funded the co-located $70 million St John of God Midland Private Hospital.

St John of God Health Care partnered with Brookfield Multiplex to design and build the hospital with construction completed on time and on budget in June 2015.

The new hospital development is part of a wider transformation of the Midland and Swan region, which is an important commercial and residential precinct and hub for Perth’s eastern suburbs and Wheatbelt communities.

Furthermore, the hospital is contributing positively to Aboriginal health outcomes, with the east metropolitan region home to about one quarter of all Aboriginal people in Perth.

As such, the local Aboriginal community was closely consulted during the design and building stages to ensure the hospital is a welcoming, culturally appropriate place and is well-placed to become a centre of excellence for Aboriginal health care.

Design

The hospital’s design aims to create a welcoming place where all members of the community experience hospitality and a sense of belonging.

The external design complements the surrounding heritage buildings in the Midland Railway Workshops precinct.

Red bricks were used for the hospital’s southern block, similar to those used at the Midland Railway Workshops. The northern block is finished with distinctive silver metal cladding, similar to the finish of trains as the site formerly built and maintained trains when it was part of the Midland Railway Workshops.

The large civic plaza welcomes patients and visitors into the hospital foyer. The spacious area features shady gardens, waiting areas, retail outlets and spaces for community activities as well as public art installations.

Inside, floors are named after geographical areas within the hospital’s catchment - Swan Valley, Avon Valley, Helena River and Darling Scarp. Colours and symbols reflecting these areas continue through each floor, in corridors and in wards to further assist with wayfinding.

Symbolic artwork

We have woven a public art gallery into the hospital, with 11 artworks created by 13 local artists permanently on display.

The artworks range from a towering, illuminated sculpture at the hospital’s entrance to delicate murals in maternity and paediatrics wards.

These artworks reflect the themes of journeys and spiritus and include references to the healing role of the hospital.

Artwork by local Aboriginal artists features prominently in the hospital, including the Welcome to Country which adorns the glass panels in the hospital foyer.

Tiles in the plaza feature traditional Noongar designs and three shade canopies at the front of the hospital have been designed by local Aboriginal artists.

The art is a part of the hospital’s Public Art Strategy which was developed by Form, a not-for-profit cultural organisation that develops and advocates for excellence in creativity and artistic practice.
It is also a part of the State Government’s Percent for Art program, which enhances public buildings and supports local artists.

Furthermore, the focus on including artwork at the hospital is a part of a wider St John of God Health Care initiative to emphasise the value of art in enhancing the holistic health, healing and wellbeing of patients and the broader community.