The concept of a medical presence at the Rockhampton Heritage Village was first proposed by the late Dr Conrad Primmer OAM following a visit to the site more than 15 years ago. Senior Rockhampton medical, dental and nursing personnel then formed a Steering Committee which within a year had established the Australian Country Hospital Heritage Association Inc in 1998. The Association merged with the Rockhampton Hospital Museum Association Inc. that was started in 1976 by senior nurse Yvonne Kelley.[1] Until his death in 2014, Dr Primmer OAM was the Patron of the Association and Yvonne Kelley OAM is currently the Archivist.

The collection started with nursing records and has grown to incorporate all aspects of health care delivery. A hospital museum which was originally located in the grounds of the Rockhampton Hospital was strongly supported by the then Hospitals Board and was opened by the Minister for Health in 1988. It operated until 1998 when the building was appropriated for redevelopment. The collection was further enhanced when the Board allowed the retention of hospital furniture and equipment when the old hospital buildings (some dating back to 1868) were demolished to make way for the redevelopment.