09/06/2026
On this day in 1946, Cornwall Park welcomed a very special milestone: the birth of the very first baby born on the grounds (9 June 1946).
The site originally opened as the US military's 39th General Hospital during WWII, before transitioning to a public facility (Cornwall Hospital) in 1945. It became home to an Obstetric and Gynaecological Unit – before being renamed National Women’s Hospital – alongside a dedicated Geriatric Unit.
By the time the maternity services relocated to Greenlane in 1964, an astonishing 50,000 babies had been born right here in Cornwall Park. Are you or someone in your family one of our official "Cornwall Park babies"? We’d love to hear your stories in the comments.
Image Reference: Equipment and babies being moved from Cornwall Hospital to Greenlance. Image donated by St. Johns.
