History

St Andrew’s Hospital, Adelaide was founded in 1936 by Sister Janet Hay, a South Australian nurse born near Harrogate on 12 April 1884. 

After serving overseas as a Staff Nurse during the First World War, she returned to South Australia determined to continue caring for her community. On 3 May 1934 she purchased land on City Acre 665, South Terrace, part of the original 700 town acres laid out by Colonel William Light in 1837, and on 12 November 1936 she was granted a licence to open St Andrew’s Private Hospital.

The hospital soon earned a reputation for compassionate care and clinical excellence. In 1947 it was purchased by the Presbyterian Church of South Australia and renamed St Andrew’s Presbyterian Hospital. With the formation of the Uniting Church in 1977, governance transferred to an independent Board of Governors and the name became St Andrew’s Hospital.

For almost 90 years, St Andrew’s has continued to grow and is now Australia’s largest stand-alone independent private hospital, recognised nationally for medical and surgical excellence.