Preston Baby Health Centre

270 Gower Street, Preston

Dr. Sir Frederic Truby King, a health reformer from New Zealand, set up Baby Health Centres in New Zealand. These health centres were attributed to a significant reduction in infantile mortality rates. The principal of the Visiting Nurses’ Association, Sister M. V. Primrose, inaugurated the values and teachings of Truby King in Victoria. The first centre in Australia to adopt the “Truby King methods” was opened by Truby King himself, in Coburg. Truby King's views are now considered controversial and are no longer followed by most maternal health practitioners. 

Soon after, Cr. G. E. Robinson inspected the centre and suggested setting up one in Preston at a Preston Council meeting. The Preston Truby King Centre was established in August 1921, in the Rechabite Hall in High Street (current 251-253 High Street, Preston). The location moved to a site on Gower Street before it was set up in its present location at 270 Gower Street, Preston. On this location before the centre were the Council Tennis Courts. 

The Foundation Stone was laid by Mayor G. C. McPherson, Cr. C. T. Crispe, Cr. L. Jones, Cr. G. E. Robinson, Cr. A. E. Newton, Cr. W Spratling, Cr. R. H. E. Maynard and Cr. W. T. Robeson. The Preston Baby Health Centre was opened by Mayoress Mrs. G. C. McPherson on 14th December 1929. The Sister-in-charge, Sister E. F. M. Holland, was a member of the Royal Victorian College of Nursing. 

Sister Holland had worked in the Preston Baby Centre since its original site. She regularly reported the progress of the centre to The Leader newspaper. These reports focussed on numbers of visitations and anecdotes of pleased attendees. She ran lectures for mothers on how to take care of milk in the home and other nursing advice based on the Truby King methodology. 

In 1931, Preston Council approved a scheme to form an Advisory Infant Welfare Council. The May Cr. G. E. Robinson was the representative. The building still stands today as the Preston Maternal & Child Health Centre. 

Advisory Infant Welfare Council (1931, February 13). The Leader, p. 13

Baby Health Centre (1930, January 17). The Leader, p. 12

Baby Health Centre (1933, August 19). The Leader, p. 2

City of Preston. (1935). Preston Jubilee celebrations: 1885 – 1935. Preston. P. 6

Preston Baby Health Centre (1927, January 29). The Argus, p. 32. 

Preston Baby Health Centre (1932, January 8). The Leader, p.2

Preston Baby Health Centre (1932, October 14), The Leader, p.14

Preston Baby Welfare Centre (1927, July 1). The Age, p. 14

Preston Health Centre (1932, December 9). The Leader, p. 3

Suburban Activities (1927, February 7). The Argus, p. 12 

The Preston Progress (1926). Progressive Preston: Past & Present 1841-1926. Preston.