Major Footscray Hospital development to transform Melbourne healthcare  

The new Footscray Hospital is set to transform healthcare delivery in Australia’s west Melbourne, providing state-of-the-art facilities for a rapidly growing community. Valued at A$1.5 billion, this landmark development is one of Victoria’s largest health infrastructure projects and will offer world-class clinical care alongside cutting-edge teaching and research spaces.

Located at the intersection of Geelong and Ballarat Roads, the hospital will feature over 500 inpatient beds, a comprehensive emergency department, and a suite of operating theatres. Specialist facilities will cater to mental health, palliative care, and acute services, while integrated teaching and research spaces will support Victoria University and Western Health in advancing medical education.

Beyond its clinical capacity, the hospital has been designed with community in mind. Features such as rooftop gardens, a central ‘Village Green’ and a footbridge linking to Victoria University will create a welcoming environment for patients, staff and visitors. Additional amenities include a pharmacy, childcare centre, café and supermarket which will further enhance the precinct’s accessibility and convenience.

Once fully operational, Footscray Hospital will accommodate up to 600 beds, enabling an additional 15,000 patient admissions and 20,000 emergency department visits annually. This expansion will significantly enhance healthcare capacity for Melbourne’s western suburbs, reducing pressure on existing facilities and improving patient outcomes. Discussing the scheme’s impact in a recent statement, a Victorian Health Building Authority Representative said: “Footscray Hospital represents a once-in-a-generation investment in healthcare for Melbourne’s west. Our goal has been to create a facility that not only meets today’s needs but anticipates the demands of the future.”

The project is being delivered via a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) led by the Victorian Health Building Authority (VHBA), in collaboration with Western Health and Victoria University. The Plenary Health consortium, with Multiplex as builder and Billard Leece Partnership and Cox Architecture as designers, is responsible for the design, construction, and maintenance of the facility.

With construction running from 2020 to 2025, the hospital will be fully operational in Q1 2026, beginning with a phased opening from February. More than 4,500 staff will undertake extensive training, including clinical simulations, to ensure seamless transition into the new facility. Over 4,000 pieces of clinical equipment will be installed, and specialist services such as emergency care, intensive care and mental health units will relocate to the new site.

Waterman Australia is proud to have played a pivotal role in this transformative project. Appointed by the Victorian Health Building Authority as Technical Advisor to the State Government, our team has delivered comprehensive engineering expertise across all building services disciplines, including mechanical and electrical systems, fire protection, hydraulic services, vertical transportation, and environmentally sustainable design.

Our involvement has spanned the entire project lifecycle, from preparing the technical brief and assessing PPP bids to reviewing detailed designs and overseeing construction phase services. Acting on behalf of the State Government and Western Health, we have ensured that every engineering solution meets the highest standards of safety, efficiency, and sustainability.