On 13 March 1912, New Zealand’s first purpose built children’s hospital, The Edward VII Memorial Children’s Hospital in Wellington, opened its doors following a successful public fundraising campaign.
The campaign raised enough funds not only to build the hospital, but also to purchase 18 Royal Doulton tiles featuring storybook and nursery rhyme themes, a common feature in children’s hospitals across the Commonwealth at the time.
By the late 1980s, it became clear that the historic tiles needed careful conservation to preserve them for future generations. In 1989 the Wellington Hospital Royal Doulton Preservation Trust was formed to raise funds for this important work. This work was then taken over by Wellington Hospitals Foundation.
In 1991, eight of the one tonne panels were installed in the new children’s hospital. Later in 2008, the remaining tiles found their permanent home in the Wellington Hospital Royal Doulton Tile Gallery, which connects the new hospital to the original complex.
Today the gallery remains a beautiful reminder of the hospital’s long standing commitment to children and the community that has supported it for over a century.