From the Drawer to Stories: how the health library brought 150 years of Horsham Hospital history to life

Abstract

Horsham Hospital in Victoria has a long history. It is also the site for Australia’s first known spinal block anaesthetic in 1902. In 2024, the hospital celebrated tis 150^th year of operation. This event required a great deal of work sifting through a jumbled “archive” of ephemera by the onsite health librarian. This work was, however, successful in bringing together community and health care staff through the stories of the past. Health librarians are often expected to do this work unfunded and ad hoc and while this can be extremely difficult to do at times, the benefits can be worthwhile. Strategic investment in health service archival practice, is however, needed.