Celebrating 100 years with Hawthorne Clinic

In 1925, a Brisbane doctor named Antony St Ledger moved into a regal Queenslander at 171 Riding Road in Brisbane’s east. The building was only four years old, and Dr St Ledger was setting up not only his family home, but also his medical practice. 

One can only imagine he'd feel immense pride today as the clinic he started celebrates a century of continuous service to the community.

As part of the celebrations, managing director Lucas Down has been collecting images, artefacts and stories that document the clinic’s history. 

He’s been trying to track down a picture of Dr St Ledger, who ran the clinic until 1951.

All he’s been able to find are scanned pages from Dr Ledger’s clinical notebook – complete with the near-illegible scrawl of a true doctor – and a photograph of his son Peter, who died fighting in World War Two.

“The stories we’ve heard is that during the war, doctors were leaned upon even more by families with fathers, sons and brothers away fighting,” Mr Down said. 

“You can imagine how difficult it would have been for Dr St Ledger to lose his own son, but he continued to practise to help his community.”

So effective was Dr St Ledger that he set some patients up for life. 

Peter Ellis, 86, is a Hawthorne local whose first memory of Dr St Ledger was from 1943.

His mother tripped on the top step of their home while carrying his two-month-old baby brother, wrapped tightly in a shawl. 

“She dropped the baby, which then bounced down about 12 stairs. My mother was hysterical. She picked up the bundle, grabbed my arm and virtually ran all the way to the surgery,” Mr Ellis said.

“Dr St Ledger saw us immediately, unwrapped the baby, checked him out carefully and then assured my mother that all was well thanks to that wonderful shawl. 

“He then suggested that Mum go home and have a cup of tea. I think she loved him from that day on.”

Peter has been a patient ever since, along with his wife Eleanor, who was first treated at Hawthorne Clinic as a 13-year-old in 1954. 

She remembers doctors caring for her parents and grandparents, and then their own three children when they came along. 

“There were a lot more house calls in those days,” Mrs Ellis said.

Mrs Ellis said Drs John Littleton, Giuseppe “Beppo” Pagliaro and Geoffrey Bourke provided incredible support to their own children, who all grew up with asthma.  

Mr Down and his wife - principal GP Carmen Main - bought the practice off Dr Pagliaro in 2016, after Dr Main had worked with him for several years.

Dr Pagliaro retired after 40 years at Hawthorne Clinic , and passed away in 2022. Dr Main and Mr Down are proud to continue the legacy of clinicians who came before them. 

“I became his personal GP after he retired, so it was incredibly special to have that relationship with him first as a mentor, then as a patient,” Dr Main said. 

“We’ve collected many stories about the generosity of Hawthorne Clinic doctors in the 20th century, before Medicare, doing call outs in the middle of the night, covering costs for patients in need, purchasing medication for patients, and even dashing off mid-consult to deliver babies. 

“Our passion now is advocating for better Medicare support for longer consultations so we can spend more time with patients to better understand and treat them holistically.

“We will never practice five-minute medicine – that’s not in the best interests of our patients, and it’s not what Hawthorne clinic is about.” 

Mr Down said the timeline of Hawthorne Clinic shows many GPs and other staff worked there for lengthy stretches, allowing for a beneficial continuity of care for patients.

“We firmly believe in GPs being at the heart of the community,” he said. 

“We feel incredibly proud to be custodians of a place with such history and are committed to keeping that connection and culture alive for many years to come.” 

AMA Queensland President Dr Nick Yim said the 100 year milestone was an extraordinary achievement. 

“We know the critical role GPs play in keeping people healthy, through early detection, prevention and monitoring of disease, and reducing the burden on our public hospitals,” Dr Yim said.

“Hawthorne Clinic is a wonderful example of ‘cradle to the grave’ care, built with trust and loyalty from both patients and clinicians.” 

Dr Yim visited Hawthorne Clinic on Friday 30 May, where he met Dr Main, Mr Down, and Peter and Eleanor Ellis, and helped cut a cake with a 100 candle on it.

Local media outlets attended to cover the milestone celebrations, focusing on the value of primary care. 

Happy anniversary Hawthorne Clinic, and here’s to the next 100 years. 

Key moments in the life of Hawthorne Clinic

1921
Herbert and Gertrude Lyon acquire site at 171 Riding Rd, Balmoral and build a house to live in. 

1924
Dr Antony Waddington St Ledger and Kathleen St. Ledger purchase the house at 171 Riding Rd in December 1924.

1925
First advert published in Courier Mail promoting business at Avon Lodge. Hawthorne Clinic is born! Dr St. Ledger (aged 30) practices from small building at the front (now QML). Tram line extended from Wynnum Creek Bridge down Riding Rd to Barton St.

1928
Peter Ellis’ family started attending Hawthorne Clinic. He first remembers visiting in 1943.

1943
Dr St. Ledger’s son, Peter, is killed in battle over Germany (age 21).

1948
Dr Les Musgrave joins Dr St Ledger at Hawthorne Clinic.

1949
Dr St. Ledger’s daughter, Janette, killed in tragic car crash (age 20).

1951
Dr St. Ledger’s wife, Kathleen, died (age 51). Title of the Premises passed to Dr I.C. and Adelaide Morrison.

1966
Dr Les Musgrave retires. He passes away unexpectedly on 24 June 1967. Dr Giuseppe “Beppo” Pagliaro commences at Hawthorne Clinic.

1969
After 44 years, the last tram runs from Balmoral to Ascot.

1979
Dr Antony Waddington St. Ledger passes away, aged 84.

2003
Hawthorne Clinic starts using electronic clinical records system. A hybrid system will continue until circa 2018, when the practice goes fully electronic.

2010
Building receives Heritage Citation from Brisbane City Council.

2016
Hawthorne Clinic is purchased from Dr Pagliaro by Dr Carmen Main and Lucas Down.

2018
Dr Pagliaro retires from the practices after 53 years. He dies in 2022.

2020
COVID-19 changes the world forever.

2025
Hawthorne Clinic celebrates 100 years of primary care!