A meeting chaired by Governor Gormanston at the Albert Hall in April overwhelmingly resolved to start raising funds to build a maternity hospital in Launceston for the respectable poor.

One week later the committee called another meeting to rescind the resolution, and to fund a Queen's Nurse who would visit married women in their homes instead.

The community was split between the two proposals, but the establishment of a hospital that would train midwifery nurses was again voted as the most appropriate way to provide a lasting memorial to the Queen.

Despite some scepticism, a new ladies' committee raised £732 7s 4d by mid-July and christened the new institution the Queen Victoria Hospital for Women.

Instead of a purpose-built hospital, the committee decided to buy an existing two-storeyed weatherboard house from WC Wilson at 193 St John Street for £625.

Builders Thomas and Waugh added a laundry and thoroughly cleaned and painted the premises.

The rules stipulated that married women only were accepted in maternity cases, but all women would be treated for gynaecological diseases.

Fees ranged from 10 shillings to £2 per week, and free for those in need.

The hospital was almost ready to open when an "embroglio" erupted among the honorary doctors. Six of the seven allopathic doctors objected to having a homeopath (Dr Gutteridge) on the same staff.

The committee dropped the idea of a homeopathic ward and rescinded the homeopath's appointment.

The Mayoress, Mrs Sadler, opened the hospital on September 29, 1897.

The first nursing staff consisted of Matron Emily Titcombe from NSW, resident pupil nurse Fanny Bradshaw and two non-resident pupil nurses, Miss L Richards and Frances Nichols.

In March 1899, the pupil nurses obtained their certificates.

The seven-bed hospital soon proved inadequate, and a new wing providing another three wards was added to the right of the original building after demolishing an old cottage at 195 St John Street.

Designed by AH Masters and built by Thomas and Waugh, the new wing was named in honour of Lady Gormanston, who laid the foundation stone on May 10, 1900, several weeks after construction began.

The new wing was opened by Mrs Henry Reed of Mount Pleasant on October 31, 1900. Mrs Reed, a generous donor, laid the foundation stone of a matching wing on the left side of the building on March 18, 1903.

This wing, also designed by AH Masters, and built by Charles Adams and Sons, opened on October 28, 1903.

It was named the Dunorlan-Noake wing in honour of the Reed family and the late Miss Matilda Noake from Hagley House.

The Queen Victoria Hospital for Women, established with much difficulty, provided women with a safe medical environment for 40 years until a new maternity hospital opened in High Street in 1937.