To provide medical and supporting services for maternity cases. Established by the citizens of Launceston and Northern Tasmania in commemoration of the 60th year of the reign of Queen Victoria, the hospital opened in 1897 as the Queen Victoria Hospital for Women. It was administered by an Association and apart from an annual subsidy provided by the State Government was self supporting from fees, donations and subscriptions.~ With effect from 15 January 1929 the Hospital Association merged with the Launceston Baby Health Association and the new association was incorporated by Act of Parliament. Increasing costs and declining revenues required continuing increases in the annual subsidy and on 12 december 1952 the Queen Victoria Hospital and Baby Health Association Incorporation Act 1928 was repealed and the Queen Victoria Maternity Hospital Act 1952 made the state government fully responsible for the hospital's finance.~~ The hospital was known as the Queen Victoria Maternity Hospital until the transfer of the gynaecology department from Launceston General Hospital in 1972, when the word Maternity was dropped from the title. The 1952 Act was itself repealed on 29 April 1987 and administration of the hospital was transferred to the Board of the Launceston Public Hospitals District.~~ In 1995 the staff and services were transferred to a wing of the Launceston General Hospital, which continued the name, and the Queen Victoria Hospital closed.~~