A history of innovation

The Melbourne Lying-in Hospital and Infirmary for Diseases of Women and Children was built to fill the need to support pregnant, impoverished women, who previously had to give birth at home without medical care. The facility is renamed to the Royal Women’s Hospital in 1956.

Second hospital in the world to start an infertility clinic.

First demonstration of operation to students and nurses by television in the southern hemisphere.

First IVF baby in Australia was born in the new Family Birth Unit as a result of PIVOT – the RWH’s Programme of In Viytro Fertilization and Ovum Transfer. Their report in Fertility and Sterility was the first publication on this procedure in the world. Following birth of first IVF baby, RWH became a major training clinic.

LAB-14 is launched, bringing people together to network, bump and collaborate in an innovation ecosystem with a distinctive program of events, seminars, exhibitions, workshops, roundtables and hackathons. More than 40,000 visitors attend.

Demolition of Royal Women’s Hospital commenced, alongside a heritage interpretation plan that  ensure the history of the Royal Women’s Hospital is remembered forever.

Construction of Melbourne Connect commenced.

Melbourne Connect will be programmed with events that inspire, inform, showcase, and entertain. This program commences ahead of Melbourne Connect opening its doors.

Melbourne Connect, Australia’s leading innovation precinct, opens its doors, continuing the innovation tradition of the site.