Waipiata Sanatorium, Maniototo
"In 1914 the Waipiata Sanatorium, a private facility, was constructed a few kilometres along the Waipiata/Patearoa road near the old Hamiltons gold field. Taken over by the Hospital Board in the early 1920s, the substantial buildings, which mostly still exist, in 1925 began a long period of caring for those with tuberculosis. The Sanatorium closed in 1961 and the buildings became a corrective and training centre for the Justice Department until 1979. They are now a private Christian retreat." (from Wikipedia)
The approach to the Sanatorium is a dirt road. It's dry, not just the land but the air as well, perfect conditions for what was considered best for tuberculosis hospitals.
A left turn leads up a tar-sealed road. Odd considering the dirt road leading there but it gives a sense that all the roads leading to the hospital in its hey-day were sealed. There's a massive schist outcrop that blocks the view of Sanatorium from the road, then this emerges.
This is the front of, what we think, is the nurses' quarter, across the road from the main buildings. From the side, the building goes back about 15 rooms long and two storeys high with a long verandah.
On the right of the road is the entrance to the Sanatorium proper. It's a Christian retreat now and we saw a woman coming out and asked her what the go was. The sign said to report to Hebron House within the grounds but we discovered the caretaker was ill...so...we drove in anyway...as quietly and respectfully as a '66 Chevy Caprice coupe can.
The backs of the main buildings are on the left and this little gem was the first building on the right.
I'd love to know where the brickworks that supplied this build is. The bricks are a soft, rosy red that I haven't seen anywhere else in the Maniototo.
This is original plaque on the front of what might have been the office. Public/private partnerships in action in the 1930s!
Most photos are taken from the car as you will see through the blog. The Sanatorium was built to be completely self-sufficient and the current tenants take full advantage of this greenhouse. I identified tomatoes and peppers. Also: greenhouse envy.
Then we came round to the front of the the main buildings. These may have been accommodation for gardeners and groundspeople.
"...showed us photograph albums of the buildings and people associated with the place, nurses, workers and patients. One showed wards, specially designed with large windows that were open to the elements. In winter patients had to have their hot water bottles filled every two hours to prevent hypothermia. I wondered how the poor nurses survived the conditions and if they were made to adhere to the uniforms of the day or allowance was made for the cold." (From Kath Baynes)
This building may have been the communal hall with a dining hall in the back.
I think the basketball court was a later addition. But look at that structure! Very cool. Also the outlook over the expanse of the Maniototo plain is stunning.
As we left, we passed the engine room of the complex. Behind those buildings we could see the chimney stack for what we think is the boiler/generator room. The main building in front is now the office "Hebron House".
Outside the gates, beside the nurses' quarters, are more substantial houses, probably the superintendent's and other key staff.
It would've been good to get out of the car, talk to the current occupants and have a look inside. But we tried to remain as unobtrusive as possible given we didn't have permission to be on site.
This post is for @lilith_grace as her grandfather worked at the Sanatorium.
I've taken excerpts from Kath Baynes' entry to a 2011 Memoir & Local History competition and from Wikipedia to inform this blog.
