Demolition of Geelong Hotel

Friday, 20th January 2012

Demolition of Geelong Hotel paves way for new Medical Centre

The $56.3 million redevelopment of St John of God Geelong Hospital begins with the demolition of the Geelong Hotel.

Transformation of the hotel, on the corner of Moorabool and Myers Streets, to a new six storey Medical Centre is set to enhance healthcare options for the Geelong community.

Redevelopment project managers, Johnstaff Projects, are working with the demolition team from Bernie Leen in the first stage of expanding the current hospital site into a landmark healthcare precinct.

The hospital’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Stephen Roberts, said he was delighted to reach such a significant milestone. “We are committed to transforming the hospital to meet community need for high quality, innovative health care services within what is a growing region,” Mr Roberts said.

“The Medical Centre will provide space for additional medical specialists and help underpin new services to be offered at St John of God.”

Mr Roberts said that since the arrival of the Sisters of St John of God in 1974, St John of God Hospital Geelong had grown in response to community demand for high quality healthcare.

The redevelopment will deliver to the community a new Private Emergency Department, three new Operating Theatres to the hospital’s existing suite of 10 theatres, a new Hydrotherapy Pool and Rehabilitation Centre, 64 new inpatient beds which increases the hospital’s bed numbers to 250, a new Angiography Suite, three and a half levels of underground parking, a new Chapel, Medical Centre, Café and Gift Shop, as well as upgraded staff amenities.

The hospital will continue to provide its full range of services during the redevelopment and will regularly communicate with patients and the community to ensure they were aware of changes to hospital access points and the achievement of project milestones.