institution was not for the benefit of the medical gentlemen, but for the benefit of the public; the interests of medical men were nothing." This 1848 report notes the dilapidated state of the hospital buildings and that £125 had been put to the erection of new buildings. The new charity hospital A new hospital was completed in September 1849, next to the previous weatherboard structure at the corner of Clifford and Sloane Streets, currently occupied by the Police Station. In contrast to the descriptions of the earlier government-funded building, an observer described it in 1857 as commodious and well run. The Rev. Willam Ross served as Subscribers' Committee Secretary for twenty years until his death in 1869, with Captain Hovell continuing as president for some of that time. A similar voluntary hospital business model applied to all general hospitals in NSW up to the 1950s. Despite the privatised charitable structure post 1842, much of the capital and half of the operating losses (shortfall) were being funded by State Government by 1913. Current building The current main Goulburn Hospital building was designed by local architect E. C. Manfred in 1886. The official opening by mayor H.S. Gannon took place on 12 October 1889 attended by a crowd of about 1,000 residents. The hospital opened with a total of 24 beds – 14 for men and 10 for women. By June 1949, the hospital had grown to incorporate 182 beds, a pathology department and specialized X-ray equipment. A major upgrade to the hospital was constructed in the 1960s, providing room for the majority of inpatient services. By 2013 work had commenced on much needed upgrades, including $20 million in capital works allowing an expansion of the mental health facilities, construction of a new 20 bed sub-acute wing, addition of 3 beds to the emergency department as well as general renovations. A major electrical upgrade was completed as part of the works allowing extra medical equipment to be acquired for the operating theatre and imaging departments. Future building In 2014 it was announced an upgraded – or even new – hospital for Goulburn could soon be a reality following an announcement of $600,000 towards redevelopment plans by NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner. "I do have a feeling though from some of my previous visits that part of the core of this hospital cannot be redeveloped because of the load bearing nature of the