They engaged building contractor, W.A. Rosenbaum of Port Macquarie, to build this residence using hand made bricks from William Jones in its construction. Jones' kiln stood near the site of Hornsby Sawmill, close to the present Rodney Street.

The Beggs occupied their new home in 1927 with their second daughter Rhonda, born there. Dr. Begg also established his surgery in this building.

Dr. Begg's practice rapidly expanded and he started referring women who were about to give birth to a Sister Morris, who had provided the first 'hospital' facilities in a house in Randall Street, directly opposite the railway station; this would have been about 1920.

Designed to be used as what was then known as a 'lying-in-place' i.e. where women could have their babies, this facility had been in operation before 1912-13 under the care and control of Sister Morris. Prior to that, women either had to stay at home to have their babies under a midwife or go to Port.

It wasn't long before the demand generated by Dr Begg's patients, not only of women waiting to give birth but from accidents, etc., that this house became too small to handle the number of patients being sent there by him. Sister Morris decided to close this facility down and sold the building to a Mrs Arthur Channel who used it as a boarding house. When Sister Morris informed Dr. Begg of her intention, he searched for an alternative place in which to accommodate his patients and fortunately he soon found one.

Nurse (later Sister) Minnie Gardiner, who held an Obstetric Certificate, from Crown Street Women's Hospital was responsible for the establishment of 'Wildfels' as a 'hospital'. Leasing it from N. J. Lindsay, she established it as a 'lying-in-place' where women could come to give birth to their children after hearing that Sister Morris planned to close down her Randall Street establishment.

Sister Gardiner had received her training in midwifery at Crown Street, where, despite not getting any pay for working there, she also had to pay 50 ($100) for a year's board in order to receive her training.

Some members of her nursing staff in 1918 were Susie E. Rose, Susie Avis, Sis Bain and Jennie Steel.

Fully aware of her skills as a good nurse and a wonderful person, Dr. Begg began to send all his patients there as soon as she had agreed to take his patients. It wasn't long before this business started to outstrip the financial and management resources of Sister Gardiner, so Dr. Begg decided take control of the management of 'Wildfels'. He then sublet it at a nominal rental back to Sister Gardiner, and subsequently to successive Matrons, prominent among whom were Sisters Howell, Angela Phyllis Duffy (later Sutherland/Coombes) and Perkins (the latter became Mrs Vince Mather of Gannon's Creek).

Back in 1907, a well known local businessman, N. J. Lindsay decided to build a substantial new home for his family and contracted a local firm, J. Baxter & Sons, to construct it, this became 'Wildfels'.

The Port Macquarie News of March 30, 1907 reported, "Mr N. J. Lindsay is having a new cottage built near the recreation ground (originally known as Wauchope Park and later as Bain Park). The land on which the building was erected was previously owned by Mr Heinrich (Henry) Eggert, who had purchased it from Alexander Bain, who had started subdividing this land for his private village.

"Heinrich had purchased this large block of land which originally fronted High Street to erect his blacksmith shop and forge.

"Heinrich subdivided this block retaining the section fronting High Street and N. J. Lindsay purchased the rear section and on this block had his residence which he named 'Wildfels'. There is some thought that the name 'Wildfels' comes from somewhere in England.

"The Lindsay family remained in occupation at 'Wildfels' until they built another home elsewhere in town."

Several years later, with the North Coast railway construction well advanced and close to reaching Wauchope, the Department of Railways wanted a building in which to house the Station Master for the official opening in 1915. They negotiated the purchase of the brick police station and Courthouse in Randall Street (which had been officially opened in 1902) for use as a Station Master's residence. (This would have been between 1914 and 1915 as the new Courthouse and Police Station in Hastings Street was built and occupied in 1915.) In the meantime, after vacating the original police station and courthouse the Police Department leased 'Wildfels' for use as a temporary Police Station for a short time.

It was after the Police had relocated to the office in Hastings Street, that Sister Gardiner had leased 'Wildfels'. This in turn led to Dr. Begg leasing 'Wildfels' and converting it into Wauchope's first real hospital, where Sisters Dredge and Howell had charge of eight patients.

In 1929, Sister Howell left and Sister Perkins (who later became Mrs Vince Maher) took charge. Perkins continued working there until 1934, while the 'Wildfels' hospital continued operating under the control of Dr. Begg.

Read the first in Ray Cooper's series on Wauchope: CLICK HERE