Page 58 SOUVENIR-CHARTERS TOWERS, 1872
TO JULY, 1950
"EVENTIDE"
CHARTERS TOWERS
ON a gentle slope outside Charters Towers stands Eventide, the aged
people's home established in North Queensland by the Queensland
Government.
Set amid green lawns and shady trees, Eventide recognises in a
practical way the State's obligation to give of its best to its
citizens whose working days are past, and who desire to spend their
declining years in comfort and congenial surroundings.
It is a home in the true sense of the word.
Visitors come when they wish, and members of the little community who
can fend for themselves call on nearby friends. Charters Towers is
within easy walking distance. There is also a regular bus service.
For the sick and infirm there are properly staffed wards. Single
and double cottages are provided for married
couples and individual inmates not in need of ward attention and
medical and nursing. service.
In these kindly surroundings, old age, free from the financial cares
and responsibilities of the working world, lives in dignity and
quiet contentment.
Planning Eventide Home
In 1903 four northern members of Parliament, Messrs. .Lawson,
Dunsford, Jackson and McDonald, conceived the idea of establishing a
home for the aged in North Queensland. Howe.ver, it was not until 10th
February. 1927, that the foundation stone of Eventide Home was placed
in position, by the then Home Secretary, the late Mr. James Stopford;
but the member for Charters Towers, the late Mr. W. J. Wellington, must
be given credit for having the home established in Charters Towers. The
home was opened in 1929.
The climate of Charters Towers is ideal. This is borne out by the
freedom from sickness enjoyed by the majority of the inmates of the
home.
The Site
Eventide is built on about half of the 35 acres resumed for the purpose
on the side of a gently sloping hill. It is laid out to a
well-designed, harmonious plan in the form of an oval. Wards and
administrative buildings are in the centre of the oval, cottages
for females on one side, and for males on the other. All wards,
offices, dining rooms, kitchen and laundry are connected by covered
passageways.
It comprises an area of thirty-five acres and, surrounded as it is by
beautiful bougainvillea of many colours and with flowering shrubs
and ornamental trees of all descriptions set out in parklike lands
is considered one of the beauty spots of Charters Towers.
Because of the equable climate of Charters Towers it was decided to
establish a Home here in which aged men and women could pass the
twilight of their lives in happiness and contentment.
The inscription of the foundation stone of the Home gives some
indication of the ideals set out at its inception.
EVENTIDE
This Stone was laid by
THE HOME SECRETARY THE HON JAMES STOPFORD
10th February, 1927
IN RECOGNITION OF THE DESIRE OF AGED PEOPLE IN THE NORTH OF QUEENSLAND
TO SPEND THE EVENTIDE OF LIFE IN FAMILIAR SURROUNDINGS NEAR
TO THEIR FRIENDS AND COMPANIONS.
"O Bless'd retirement, friend to life's decline Retreat from cares,
that never must be mine, How bless'd is he who crowns, in shades like
these
A youth of labour with an age of ease."
Since 1929, Eventide has grown considerably until now, two hundred
and twenty men and fifty women are being cared for in five large
dormitories and one hundred and fourteen single and double cottages.
