CONSTRUCTION on the $60m Weststate Private Hospital will officially start on Monday, and will begin a new chapter for the former Townsville West State School building.
Seven years in the making, the breaking of ground will mark a significant milestone for development partners Centuria Healthcare and Geon Property and hospital operator Weststate.
After months spent preparing the site, construction is about to begin for the $60.5 million Weststate Private Hospital in West End. Picture: Leighton Smith
The site amalgamates six land parcels into a single two-acre site, providing a five-storey purpose-built property, complete with four operating theatres, one procedure room, 19 day beds and 22 overnight beds.According to Weststate, the short-stay hospital will focus on industry-leading patient care, and lower out of pocket expenses for patients and address the needs of a growing ageing population.
The former Townsville West school building will be incorporated into the construction of the Weststate Private Hospital. Picture: Leighton Smith
Procedures will predominantly focus on orthopaedics, such as joint replacements, as well as subspecialties across urology, ophthalmology, endoscopy, general surgery, gynaecology, oral, ear-nose-throat, neurosurgery, hepatobiliary, vascular and bariatric treatments.
Part of the development will breathe new life into the heritage-listed school building that was also used as a military encampment and convalescent ward during World War II.
The heritage-listed Townsville West State School building was constructed between 1921 and 1939. Picture: Leighton Smith
It will be transformed into specialist consulting suites and will include a new footbridge link to the new short-stay hospitalConstruction of the Weststate Private Hospital will take 16 months with completion expected in mid-2023.
Construction of the Weststate Private Hospital will take 16 months with completion expected in mid-2023.Construction officially begins on Monday for the $60.5 million Weststate Private Hospital in West End. Picture: Leighton Smith