Caritas Christi Urget Nos—the love of Christ impels us

In 1838, the Sisters of Charity, guided by the spirit of their founder, Mary Aikenhead, arrived in Sydney from Dublin, Ireland.

In 1857, faithful to the charism of service to the poor and sick, they opened the first Catholic Hospital in Australia. This was St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney’s Potts Point.  Thirteen years later, St Vincent's Hospital moved to Darlinghurst, where it is still located today.

From these early beginnings, St Vincent's has grown to become one of the leading medical institutions in Australia. As their work within the Hospital expanded, the Sisters of Charity recognised the great need to include specialised care for the dying, and so the first hospice was established in 1890 adjacent to St Vincent's.

Later, the hospice was moved to the other side of Victoria Street. In 1909 the old hospice building was refurbished and re-opened as St Vincent's Private Hospital, providing support to St Vincent’s and specialised care for those who desired private healthcare. Near to this site is the present St Vincent's Private Hospital, completed in 1976. The Hospital was blessed by the late Cardinal Freeman, and opened by His Excellency, the Governor of New South Wales, Sir Roden Cutler.

To meet the many changing needs of its patients, St Vincent's Clinic was established in 1990, providing a comprehensive range of investigative and diagnostic services.

In 1996, a major refurbishment of the Hospital was completed. Care areas were upgraded, along with most service areas. All work was specifically designed to significantly improve the quality of patient care.

The distinctive roles of St Vincent’s Private Hospital and St Vincent’s Clinic reflect a commitment to pursuing excellence in patient care and implementing the philosophy of the Sisters of Charity, recognising the uniqueness of each person, and preserving the dignity and independence of each patient.

Today, St Vincent's Private Hospital is an acute medical and surgical hospital with 244 beds.