May 2nd, 2025Maryborough hospital $115 million upgrade complete, first patients in
Residents across Maryborough and the surrounding region can now access healthcare closer to home with the upgrade of Maryborough and District Hospital officially completed.
Premier Jacinta Allan and Member for Ripon Martha Haylett last week officially opened the hospital’s $115 million new facility as it prepared to admit its first patients this week and announced a funding boost to bring the new facility online.
The opening is backed by an $11.7 million investment – which will help the hospital to hire more staff, install new equipment and set up the new facility.
The new state-of-the-art, purpose-built facility will mean the hospital’s dedicated doctors and nurses can treat an additional 4,000 patients every year – supporting demand in the growing region.
The upgrade has delivered a new urgent care centre, a 32-bed inpatient unit, two operating theatres and recovery spaces, and a day medical centre with imaging, pharmacy, and oncology, dialysis and infusion services.
Local mums will also be able to give birth closer to home, with the upgrade delivering a new maternity unit that includes birthing suites – meaning women with uncomplicated pregnancies no longer need to travel to nearby towns with larger hospitals to have their babies.
The modern design and layout will also improve patient flow and deliver a safer and more efficient workplace for staff and better care for patients. It also includes new consultant suites, a reception area and additional carparking.
The project was delivered by the Victorian Health Building Authority and builder Fairbrother Construction and created and sustained more than 340 local jobs during peak construction.
Work is continuing on the new state-of-the-art logistics hub which will streamline logistics for the redeveloped hospital, making it faster and more efficient to distribute supplies throughout the hospital.
The $4.3 million project will enhance storage and handling capacity, improve linen services, and upgrade waste management.
The hub will also strengthen infection control measures by providing a segregated space for linen handling, hot water equipment wash bays, and an expanded space for clinical waste storage.
MDHS Chief Executive Officer Nickola Allan said the completion of the new hospital was a historic moment for the region.
“This is a once-in-a-generation transformation of our health service, and we’re incredibly proud to be standing at the doorstep of this new era for care in Maryborough,” said Ms Allan.
“This is more than bricks and mortar—it’s about improving access to the care our community needs, close to home and in a modern, purpose-built environment.”
Operations in the new facility began on Monday April 28 with services commencing in dialysis, pharmacy, outpatient appointments and medical imaging (by appointment).
Urgent Care, Maternity and the Inpatient Unit opened from 7am on Tuesday April 29 for acute care.
Visitors were welcomed into the new hospital from 4pm, with most services returning to standard operations by April 30. Planned surgeries will start from mid-May.
“We’re asking our community to bear with us as we carefully manage the transition over the coming week,” said Mrs Allan.
