Repatriation Commission Outpatient Clinic, Healthcare building in St Kilda Road, Melbourne, Australia.
The Repatriation Commission Outpatient Clinic is a brown brick Art Deco building at 310 St Kilda Road, designed by George Hallandal under H. L. McKennall of the Commonwealth Works Department and opened on 15 November 1937. It stands beside the bluestone of Victoria Barracks, and Sir Arthur Streeton criticised the brown brick against that bluestone. Inside were a large warmed central waiting hall, a pharmaceutical dispensary, single examination rooms and a theatre for minor surgery.
This building opened in November 1937 to provide medical services to veterans returning from World War I. It was built to address the healthcare needs of soldiers who required specialized treatment and ongoing care.
The Australian Red Cross ran a non-profit canteen at the clinic from its opening, serving tea, coffee and biscuits to veterans between 10am and 4pm. Up to 25 volunteers staffed it, serving 200 to 250 people daily. One veteran of the Sudan War was nicknamed 'Keep Smiling' for his cheerful manner.
The clinic stands at 310 St Kilda Road, on the corner of Coventry Street beside Victoria Barracks. Its 1950 extension by D. B. Windebank added a war neurosis clinic, bringing usable floor area to 1,667 m² of a 2,240 m² total. The main entrance faces St Kilda Road, and trams run along the boulevard.
The building maintained a direct connection to surviving World War I veterans, while most memorials focus on fallen soldiers. This makes it a rare location that reflects the personal stories of those who came home.
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