Old Hospital Terrace Complex

Part of the property originally known as Constantia estate on which in 1786 Arend Munnik built a house on a plan similar to Groot Constantia. Sold in 1799 to Henry Roselt, and again to the Royal Navy in 1813 for conversion into the Naval Hospital. Three semi detached cottages were added to the southern end of the property as accommodation for the hospital staff. The wall enclosing the terraced gardens was erected in 1817.
It was in this hospital in October 1872 that the first operations were performed in South Africa using Lord Lister's antiseptic methods, with complete and unexpected success. The buildings continued in use as a hospital until the new Naval Hospital above Cornwall street was completed in 1903.The Hospital section then became the Dockyard Police Club while the three residences were allotted to senior Naval officials. The South African Navy took possession of the property in 1957 and it has been used for accommodation and office purposes ever since.

STHS