TOORA PRIVATE HOSPITAL (FORMER)

The former private hospital and dwelling at 16 Welshpool Road, Toora, built in 1906, is significant. The double fronted, symmetrical weatherboard Federation home has a steeply pitched roof with hipped gablets, a lower pitched flat roofed verndah with wooden denticulate decorations, and a front facing gablet with finial. 
Non-original alterations and additions, other than those specified above, are not significant.

The former private hospital and current private dwelling at 16 Welshpool Road, Toora, is of local historic and aesthetic significance to the South Gippsland Shire.

Historically, this dwelling was the first private hospital in Toora, and one of the first in the South Gippsland Shire region. A local contractor, Mr Dawson, built the dwelling in 1906. In late 1914, the new Toora Doctor, Dr. Edgar Barrett and his wife Edith purchased this dwelling for the purpose of its use as a hospital, with Nurse Harriet Everitt as the tenant from 1919-20 to 1926-27. The hospital was moved to 17 Harriet Street (see TO-HA-017) in 1929. This building demonstrates the high level of importance put on developing early medical facilities and illustrates the common practice of hosting hospitals in private residences. It also demonstrates the growth of Toora during the Federation and Interwar period. (Criterion A) 
Aesthetically, 16 Welshpool Road is a superior and intact example of a Federation villa, both in Toora and across the Shire. The building still clearly exhibits its key features and is in excellent condition. This building illustrates the early residential development on Welshpool Road, Toora during the Federation period. The house significantly contributes to the aesthetic and historic character of Welshpool Road and the town of Toora. (Criterion E)