Doctor’s residence on top of the hill later burnt down. The doctor was required to be on call for injuries in the mine.
Drs Barry, Bradfield, Woods, Kilgaur snr, Kilgaur jnr, worked in Catherine Hill Bay with the last doctor being Dr Cohen. He bought the practice and moved into town on Anzac Day 1948 with his wife Ursula. They raised their daughter Roslyn in the Bay.
In 1948 the Doctor’s house was the first to be painted in Catherine Hill Bay by the Mining Company. Afterwards the houses on the western side of Clarke Street were painted and then the painters worked their way up the eastern side of Clarke Street.
The surgery waiting room was attached to the side of the house and looked like a tiny church. It faced towards the hotel.
During mealtimes the doctor had to be very careful about what was said as the maid had many relations in the town. Joyce Price and Mavis Wiggs were employed at different periods by Doctor Cohen.
The telephone system also presented problems. At that time there were shared party lines and when the doctor was ringing the hospital with patient details he could often hear the sound of the refrigerators from Connor’s shop in Middle Camp as someone was listening in.
When private medical cover came into being and transport not so difficult Dr Cohen moved the Medical Practice into Swansea.
After the Cohen family left for Belmont Max Outram, son of Charlie and Ettie and nephew of Jeanie and ‘Skeeter’ moved in with his new wife. The house burnt down while they were out, burning everything including wedding presents.