Demolition work has begun at Warrnambool Base Hospital in Australia as part of an A$396.1m ($255.5m) redevelopment project, announced by Melissa Horne, Victoria's minister for health infrastructure.
The demolition will pave the way for a new clinical service building, including an upgraded emergency department located off Timor Street.
Managed by the Victorian Health Building Authority, the Warrnambool Base Hospital redevelopment is projected to be completed by late 2027.
Horne said: “As major demolition works get underway, this marks an exciting milestone for Warrnambool Base Hospital redevelopment.
“The bigger and better Warrnambool Hospital will deliver more health services, closer to home for local families.”
The project involves the phased removal of three older buildings, two of which were previously used for linen and logistics services.
In preparation for the redevelopment, non-clinical services have been relocated to a new regional logistics distribution centre on Cooper Street, which now supports more than 50 health services across south-west Victoria with modern linen, supply, and logistics services.
Once completed, the new multi-storey clinical services building will feature an expanded emergency department, additional operating theatres, 22 new inpatient beds, and dedicated facilities for medical imaging and dialysis.
A specialised ten-bed paediatric unit will also be included to provide tailored care for local children and their families.
This redevelopment represents a major investment in health infrastructure in regional Victoria, enhancing the local economy and generating around 800 construction jobs.
To date, over 40,000 hours of work have been logged on-site, with more than 10km of mains electrical cabling and around 1,500m of stormwater, sewerage, fire, and water services already installed.
Victoria health minister Mary-Anne Thomas said: “The expanded Warrnambool Hospital will be a game-changer for local families - as demolition works get underway, it’s fantastic to see this project coming to life.”
