17 South memorialised at iconic Qtopia exhibition

24 Feb 2023

Coinciding with WorldPride, Sydney’s first dedicated queer museum, Qtopia, has been launched at the Bandstand in the Green Park, across from St Vincent’s Hospital, as well as additional space at the National Art School.

The exhibition features a recreation of St Vincent’s Ward 17 South, the first dedicated HIV AIDS ward in Australia, where countless men and women were cared for without discrimination or judgement.

Qtopia curators wanted to recreate 17 South as a living tribute the compassion shown by the Sisters of Charity and St Vincent’s staff of the time, who physically and emotionally cared for patients infected with this new disease, when no one else would.

"It's a lot of loss, but also a lot of love”, Dr Liz Bradshaw, Curator, said of the 17 South exhibit.

But the exhibition is also one of celebration of those who fought and are still fighting for LGTBTQI+ rights, and captures the history making activism of Mardi Gras since 1978. The commemoration of the legacy and celebration of queer lives, the role of government, St Vincent’s clinical and research teams, and the Queer community groups during the height of the AIDS epidemic are honoured.

The exhibition is now open. For more details, see https://qtopiasydney.com.au/

17 south staff

Archival image of 17 South staff