History of The Alfred

Founded in 1871, The Alfred is the oldest Melbourne hospital that is operating on its original site.

The hospital was built in honour of His Royal Highness, Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, who survived an assassination attempt in 1868 while visiting Australia. The people of Melbourne were so thankful for the safety of the Prince that they established a fund to build a hospital in his name.

Since that time, The Alfred has been recognised as a pacesetter in the national medical arena. The Alfred provides the most comprehensive range of specialist medical and surgical services in Victoria. This includes a number of statewide services it offers including trauma care, heart and lung transplant and burns care.

As well as having expertise in acute care, The Alfred is well known for its medical research and healthcare teaching.

Alfred front entrance 1965
Senior nursing staff 1932