Greater Whitsundays Vet service spends $1.3m on Proserpine site used in Black Snow series

A North Queensland veterinarian has forked out $1.3m to get a new clinic up and running on the site of an old Commonwealth Bank building which was also used in a highly-rated Aussie TV crime drama.

Bowen based vet to open second location in Proserpine.

A new vet is coming to Proserpine ready to treat dogs, cats, farm animals and exotic creatures, and there’s a bit of history behind the building it’s moving into.

52 Main Street was the home of Proserpine’s Commonwealth Bank branch, a former administrative office for the Whitsundays Council and as a shooting location for the crime drama television series Black Snow.

The Australian-made series set in North Queensland centres on a South Sea Islander community, touches on blackbirding and features Travis Kimmel, better known for his roles in Vikings and Boy Swallows Universe as the father.

The building was bought by Bowen-based Greater Whitsundays Vet Service for $510,000 in November to expand into Proserpine.

52 Main St has been a CBA bank branch, offices for the WRC and even a set for the tv series Black Snow.

Director Jason Mansfield said the new clinic would be offering comprehensive care from short consults to complex surgical procedures.

“We cover pretty much everything,” Mr Mansfield said.

“We’re really just trying to help out our clientele in Proserpine and make it a bit easier for them.”

Director Jason Mansfied grew up in Sarina and has been working in the Greater Whitsundays since graduating JCU in 2014.

The clinic will be staffed by three vets, as well as seven support staff including nurses and receptionists.

Mr Mansfield said during the construction phase, they’re putting a focus on hiring tradesmen from the area and they had already started the hiring process for their clinic staff.

The floor plan for the new clinic will include separate spaces for cats, a radiology lab, surgical suite and dentist

Development started in January, 2024 with the demolition of many internal walls and, following approval from the Whitsundays regional council on June 26, will continue to build three consultation rooms, a cat ward, dental room, radiology lab, dog cages, isolation room, and surgical suite.

Mr Mansfield expects they will invest up to $850,000 in the refitting of the building and have the clinic finished by November 2024.

“We should be ready to get going, but it will depend on trade availability,” he said.

The new clinic will be located on Main St in Proserpine with access from Setter Ln.

Access to the building will be from Setter Ln so that animals don’t have to cross Main St to reach the clinic.

The clinic is Greater Whitsundays Vet Service’s second location, and the mobile service will operate as usual.

“We’re usually out on the road visiting our farmers who have horses and cattle,” Mr Mansfield said.

“Our clients can always give us a ring.”