City Health Department

Unique IDAG-0073DescriptionThe City Health Department, under the control of the City Health Officer, had two major responsibilities. These were: the public health of the City under the Public Health Act and other legislation; and the medical examination of Council's employees.

This Department was created on 30 May 1900, when Council constituted the City Health Officer as official head of the Sanitary Department. The City Health Officer had his official quarters in the Town Hall, although he was appointed by the State Government, who also paid his entire salary. His inspectors had half their salary paid for by Council, the rest again by the State Government. The salaries of others were paid by Council.

When the Department was first created it was known as the Sanitary Department, and sometimes the Health and Sanitary Department. After 1902 the word "Sanitary" was dropped from the title and it was known as the City Health Department or the City Health Officer's Department.

The Inspector of Nuisances, CA 75, was placed under the control of the City Health Officer in 1900. There seems to have been some dispute about this as the Town Clerk reported in 1904 that there had been "suggestions that the Inspector of Nuisances occupies a semi-independent, if not an absolutely independent position, and that he is in certain matters free from the control and jurisdiction of the City Health Officer". He submitted that "on general principles, and in the interests of public health, it is quite impossible for any department to work efficiently under two heads, and that the City Health Officer is the natural head and responsible officer for the efficient administration of the Health Department". (Town Clerk's Annual Report, Proceedings of Council 1904, pp 199-202).

The position of City Health Officer was filled on a part-time basis until Dr J S Purdy retired and was replaced by Dr Talbot Lewis Dunn on 2 November 1936. At this time it became a full-time position.

The Department inspected the sanitary conditions of streets and gullies, dairies, stables, food, animals, butcher shops, common lodging houses, and buildings in dangerous conditions. It also investigated outbreaks of contagious diseases and instituted measures to contain diseases, such as employing rat catchers and immunising children.

The City Health Officer was required to inspect plans lodged with Council for approval of ventilation and sanitary systems. He also conducted medical examinations of Council employees prior to employment, and examined employees absent on sick leave over a specified period.

In 1949, Council split the medical function off and formed a new department, CA 2, City Medical Officer's Department. (See CRS 34, TC 17/1949).

In 1979, the Community Services Section of CA 10, Parks and Recreations Department, was transferred to the Health Department and a new department was formed, CA 6, Health and Community Services Department.CreationResolution of Council 30 May 1900AbolitionResolution of Council 23 July 1979

Description

Start date30th May 1900End date23rd July 1979Relationship legacy dataPRECEDED BY: Camperdown Municipal Council AG-0063 (01/01/1909)
PRECEDED BY: Waterloo Municipal Council AG-0071 (01/01/1949)
PRECEDED BY: Paddington Municipal Council AG-0070 (01/01/1949)
PRECEDED BY: Redfern Municipal Council AG-0069 (01/01/1949)
PRECEDED BY: Newtown Municipal Council AG-0068 (01/01/1949)
PRECEDED BY: Glebe Municipal Council AG-0066 (01/01/1949)
PRECEDED BY: Erskineville Municipal Council AG-0065 (01/01/1949)
PRECEDED BY: Darlington Municipal Council AG-0064 (01/01/1949)
PRECEDED BY: Inspector of Nuisances AG-0075 (30/05/1900)
PRECEDED BY: Health Officer AG-0095 (by 31/12/1900)
RELATED TO: Sydney City Council OR-0001 (30/05/1900 to 23/07/1979)
RELATED TO: Public health FN-0012 (30/05/1900 to 23/07/1979)
RELATED TO: Council administration FN-0026 (30/05/1900 to 08/08/1949)
Source System ID73

Relationships

Preceding agenciesInspector of NuisancesDarlington Municipal CouncilErskineville Municipal CouncilGlebe Municipal CouncilNewtown Municipal CouncilRedfern Municipal CouncilPaddington Municipal CouncilWaterloo Municipal CouncilCamperdown Municipal CouncilHealth OfficerOrganisationSydney City CouncilRelated functionsCouncil administrationPublic health

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City Health Department