Celebrating 100 Years
From our humble beginnings as a 7 bed Vaucluse Hospital, we are so proud of where we are today - part of the Aurora Healthcare Australia group of private hospitals with a modern facility that accommodates up to 124 inpatients every day, up to 700 day program patients every month, with over 240 staff and up to 50 exceptional medical specialists.
Julia Strickland - Bellamy
CEO - Aurora Healthcare
As the CEO of Aurora Healthcare Australia, I have had the privilege of building a strong and proud association with Brunswick Private Hospital for over a decade. Throughout this time, I have been an eyewitness to the hospital's remarkable journey of growth, diversification, and most recently resilience in the face of challenges posed by the global pandemic. The unwavering dedication and passion demonstrated by our exceptional team, as they navigate both triumphs and trials, are a testament to the enduring spirit of delivering quality private healthcare services to our local community.
While my tenure spans a mere ten years, it pales in comparison to the illustrious 100-year history that Brunswick Private Hospital now celebrates. As we gaze toward the future, we are filled with optimism and determination to expand our mental health offerings and enhance our existing rehabilitation services. With unwavering confidence, I believe that Brunswick Private Hospital will continue to evolve and adapt to meet the ever-changing needs of our local community for countless years ahead.
Brunswick Private Hospital was first opened in 1923 and commenced its humble begins from a 3 bedroom weatherboard home. The hospital soon began to expand its services to accommodate a growth in the local community. Its 7 bed maternity ward was opened in 1923by Ida Biggs, a registered nurse (midwife).
Soon after, an adjoining house was purchased to support a 58 bed expansion and the Hospital began delivering a range of speciality services including medical, surgical, midwifery and rehabilitation.
In 1971 the Hospital was acquired by Mr Gregory Prouse who continued to transform the site. A new front entrance was built to merge the two properties and in 1973 an additional property was purchased allowing the hospital to increase its capacity to 136 beds and introduce mental health services.
In 1979 a new kitchen was built to service the increased capacity of the hospital and the local community – 700 meals per day were provided to support the Meals on Wheels program in Brunswick and Coburg.
The Hospital continued operating as a combined surgical, medical and mental health facility until it was acquired by Healthe Care Australia in August 2009.
Since the acquisition, Healthe Care has transformed Brunswick Private Hospital into a dedicated medical and rehabilitation facility in order to meet the changing needs of the community. As part of the transformation, the Group has already invested in the upgrade and refurbishment of the site – patient accommodation across two wards has been completed and works commenced on the installation of a new hydrotherapy pool.
On completion, the new hospital will not only replace ageing infrastructure, but presents the opportunity to investigate new models of care including extensive outpatient programs supported by the latest technology and access to allied health services.
Healthe Care Australia and more recently Aurora Heath realised the potential of this facility and its role in the local community. Working together with the surrounding medical precinct, community groups, doctors and relevant agencies Brunswick Private Hospital will continue to service the community well into the future.