Trentham - Gweneth Wisewould Walk
As you drive into the township of Trentham, you'll notice an intriguing clock in the main street. Dedicated to the equally intriguing Gweneth Wisewould - the unconventional and artistic town doctor for over a quarter of a century. We invite you to take a wander back in time in 'Dr Gwen's' honour.
Meet Dr Gwen (1884–1972)
Dr Gweneth Wisewould arrived in Trentham late one rainy evening in 1938, steam erupting from the overheated radiator in her ancient Plymouth. She would spend the next 34 years supporting the most vulnerable and sick in the Trentham district.
Dr Gwen came from a wealthy Melbourne family and had recently left her role as a leading surgeon at the Queen Victoria Hospital (now closed). Together with her devoted housekeeper and companion Ella Miller Bell (`Ellabelle'), and their two dachshunds, she arrived in the Central Highlands seeking a new start. Her training and superb surgical skills saved many people injured on isolated farms and those seeking treatment at Trentham Bush Hospital.
Dressed in her trademark boots and greatcoat, Dr Gwen often worked tirelessly through the night to attend to patients - driving all hours on muddy tracks in a variety of vehicles, including her famous old Dodge truck. She was never known to refuse a request for help or send a bill afterwards.
Through her medical work and involvement in St George's Anglican Church, the Bush Hospital Committee, local drama productions, and many other civic activities (such as dressing up as Santa for the annual children's Christmas party!), Gweneth Wisewould was a well-respected and much-loved member of the community until her death in 1972.
Points of interest around town
1. From 1938 to 1954, Dr Gwen's surgery was located at 15 Market Street. Mr Goodrick's pharmacy was conveniently situated next door at No. 17.
2. 18 Market Street (now Aterics Cafe) was once occupied by Arthur Beattie's butcher shop. Dr Gwen stored her perishable drugs (most notably penicillin) in Beattie's wooden cool room before reliable refrigeration arrived in Trentham.
3. The sanctuary light at St George's Anglican Church (58 High Street) is dedicated to Gweneth Wisewould. It hangs above the altar, with a plaque to the right. Hundreds of people crowded into this small church on the 24 January 1972 for her funeral. Speakers were set up outside, and double lines of cars made their way to the cemetery afterwards.
4. 'St Chads' at 69 High Street is one of Trentham's oldest residences. It was built for Donald McPherson and later given by then owner Patrick Murphy to the Catholic Church, who enlarged it for use as a convent. Following the loss of 'Westacres' - Dr Gwen's beloved home of 20 years (which was located opposite the entry to Blue Mount Road) - in a house fire in 1965, this was the house that the people of Trentham quietly cleaned and thoughtfully filled with new household goods as a surprise for the town doctor on her move-in day.
5. On the corner of High and Market Streets is the Gweneth Wisewould Memorial Clock, which was dedicated in 1973 following her death.
It was created by renowned Melbourne sculptor Stan Hammond, also a Trentham local, who said at the time that such a remarkable person needed a unique shape for her memorial. The clock is kept a minute fast, as Dr Gwen had a firm reputation in the district for rarely being on time!
6. Gweneth Wisewould's third and final surgery was located at 34-36 High Street - now home to Jargon Gallery. Prior to this, Dr Gwen had operated a surgery at 'Westacres' following her move from Market Street.
7. First opened in 1934, Trentham Bush Hospital is where Dr Gwen performed minor surgery and delivered a whole generation of Trentham babies. It's now Springs Medical Practice on Victoria Street. There's an information panel near the entry to the Aged Care section about Gweneth Wisewould's life and work in the region.
8. A visit to Dr Gwen's gravesite at Trentham Cemetery offers the rare opportunity for some quiet reflection. When she decided to make Trentham her permanent home in 1945 and purchased W.J. Anderson's 'Westacres', the town was delighted.
That year, she also purchased a cemetery plot (Section B, Row 10) for herself and Ellabelle, who died in 1953. Her foster sister Dorothy Bethune joined Dr Gwen as housekeeper following Ellabelle's death. Bethune is also buried at the same site. All three graves face west to capture Trentham's gorgeous bush sunsets.
Location
High Street, Trentham 3458 View Map
