From Gold Rush Roots to Rural Health Leadership.

On the banks of the Clutha River in 1863, a simple wooden hospital opened its doors to weary miners chasing gold. Within days, all 50 beds were filled. Many of those first patients had battled harsh winters, poor shelter, and disease — but what they found at Dunstan was care, compassion, and a community determined to look after its own.

Just 15 years later, floodwaters threatened to sweep the hospital away. In a remarkable act of grit, the people of Clyde dismantled the building plank by plank and hauled it to higher ground. That spirit of resilience — of locals refusing to give up on their hospital — would become a defining thread in Dunstan’s story.

Through the decades, Dunstan grew and evolved. New wards were added. Maternity services were debated and, eventually, celebrated. During both World Wars, the hospital stretched itself to care for returning soldiers, while community fundraisers — bazaars, horse races, even fireworks displays — helped pay the bills. By its centenary in 1963, Dunstan was no longer just a place of treatment; it was an anchor of identity for Central Otago.

From a timber building on flood-prone riverbanks to a thriving, modern rural hospital, Dunstan Hospital has always been shaped by the determination of its people.

A Hospital Owned by Its People

Fast-forward to 1999, when the community itself formally took ownership. Central Otago Health Incorporated was formed, with Central Otago Health Services Ltd (COHSL) running the hospital. This unique model — one of the only of its kind in Aotearoa — ensured that decisions would always be made with local people at heart.

And those decisions have mattered. Today, Dunstan Hospital is a fully staffed rural hospital — an extraordinary feat in today's health system. Its 220-strong team provides acute care, rehabilitation, chemotherapy, diagnostics, and specialist clinics, keeping 93% of hospital admissions local and within an hour of home.

Powered by Community

From the very beginning, Dunstan Hospital has relied on its people to step up when government support fell short. In the 1800s it was dances and horse races that raised the money to keep the doors open. Today, it is the generosity of local donors, businesses, and volunteers that ensures Dunstan Hospital can keep pace with the needs of a growing and ageing population.

The Dunstan Hospital Foundation Charitable Trust has been established to increase access to quality healthcare for every person in Central Otago, the Upper Clutha, and the Lakes District – when it’s needed, and closer to home. Everyone deserves quality healthcare, no matter where they live.

Dunstan Hospital is a publicly funded facility, and while core services are supported through government health funding, this covers only the day-to-day delivery of care. When opportunities arise to provide more services locally, improve facilities, or upgrade vital equipment, the funds are not always there.

That’s where the Foundation comes in. Working alongside Central Otago Health Services Ltd (COHSL), it raises the funds that make these important projects happen faster and to the highest possible standard. Community fundraising bridges the gap — ensuring essential services remain local, and that our hospital remains fit for the future. Every dollar raised directly enhances patient care, extends clinical reach, and helps futureproof our rural hospital for generations to come.

Stories of Impact

The numbers tell part of the story: last year alone, Dunstan Hospital delivered more than 1,900 chemotherapy and infusion treatments, saving patients hundreds of long trips to Dunedin. District nurses made over 12,000 home visits across rugged terrain. A patient transport service, entirely community-funded, completed over 200 trips to Dunedin. And the hospital kitchen, with help from community partners, prepared and delivered 16,000 Meals on Wheels across Alexandra, Clyde, Cromwell, and Wānaka.

But the real impact is felt in moments: a farmer recovering from surgery who can still see the hills he calls home out his hospital window. A grandmother receiving her cancer treatment locally, surrounded by whānau support. A Wānaka family able to access overnight acute care without a long, stressful drive.

Walking the Talk for the Future

From a timber building on flood-prone riverbanks to a thriving, modern rural hospital, Dunstan Hospital has always been shaped by the determination of its people. Its story is one of resilience, generosity, and relentless belief that everyone — no matter where they live — deserves access to excellent healthcare, close to home.

That’s why the work of the Dunstan Hospital Foundation Charitable Trust is so vital. By standing alongside COHSL, it keeps the community at the heart of healthcare — ensuring that our people, our place, and our patients always come first.

As we look to the future, Hei Huarahi — our pathway forward — is clear: to keep elevating rural health for all, powered by the same community spirit that has carried Dunstan Hospital for more than 160 years.

The Story of Dunstan Hospital