History of blood services - 1945-1959

After the war, the Red Cross became the guardians of Australia's blood supply, the nation's sole collector and distributor of blood and blood products. Medical breakthroughs, technological developments and new surgical procedures led to a boom in demand. Blood banks were established in major cities and towns and by the 1950s the first mobile blood collection units began travelling to regional Australia.

The Red Cross takes over the Army's blood and serum preparation centres.

Picture: Blood grouping for the army using ceramic tiles, 1943.

Australia's earliest mobile blood bank - a unique specially equipped train coach donated by Woolworths - makes its maiden journey to Donnybrook, Western Australia.

Picture: The mobile blood bank train carriage in Western Australia, 1948.

The first rural mobile blood collection unit hits the road in Victoria.

Picture: The first mobile unit at Tallarook, Victoria, 1950.

Commonwealth Serum Laboratories begins producing plasma products at Australia's first fractionation plant.