plant the trees around this church, the first in Springwood of any denomination. In March 1934 Sir Thomas Buckland, miner, pastoralist, businessman (mining investor, company chairman and president of the Bank of NSW) and philanthropist discussed a proposal with the NSW Government to purchase land and establish a hospital, furnish and endow it, on the proviso that the State would upgrade Springwood's water supply. In May 1934 a Deed of Trust between Buckland Esq. and Trustees: Thomas Buckland; Rt. Rev. Sydney James Kirkby, Bishop Coadjutor of the Diocese of Sydney; Dr. C. K. Hogg, inspector-general of mental hospitals in NSW: R. W. Gillespie, merchant; A. J. Taylor, solicitor; and David Roxburgh, solicitor - was signed to establish "The Buckland Hospital". Buckland Convalescent Hospital The Trust Deed Thomas Buckland purchased Euchora in 1934, and the Buckland Hospital Trust was established by a trust deed, registered on 20 August 1934. The deed states, inter-alia: The trust fund was also to be put to the provision of 25 beds and also "... for the medical nursing and domestic staff necessary for the conduct of such Hospital which shall be erected according to plans and specifications approved by the Trustees." Hospital building The design for the hospital was prepared by Buckland and McPhee Smith, architects. One of Thomas Buckland's sons, Harold Buckland, was a principal of that firm. The contract for the erection of the hospital was let to Kell & Rigby, builders for A£28,500 in May 1935. One of the conditions of Buckland's gift was that the state government should install a permanent water supply to the town of Springwood, including the hospital. This was completed, including a reinforced concrete tank holding , reticulation to the hospital and other lower Blue Mountains villages, in 1935. Early years The first matron of the BCH was Matron Rothery, whose diaries from the beginning of 1936, up until 1940 were examined in detail to try to gain some insight into the establishment and operation of the hospital during its early years. In "Memoranda from 1935", Matron Rothery notes that on 15 November, she and Sister Heard visited Springwood, where Mr Taylor met them at the train, and they had dinner at his house. They inspected the Buckland Hospital later. During the course of November and December, various items of hardware, kitchenware and other equipment of the hospital were purchased from Anthony Hordens in Sydney. On 23