Revealed: Geelong’s $500m Barwon hospital designs unveiled
The largest healthcare investment in Geelong's history takes shape as new designs showcase how the $500m women's and children's hospital will transform local medical care.
New designs showing a first-look inside Geelong’s under-construction Barwon Women’s and Children’s Hospital have been released.
The $500m project will include maternity inpatient beds; pediatric multi-day and same-day services; inpatient beds; special care nursery cots; birthing suites; operating theatres and expanded pediatric and maternity specialist outpatient facilities.
The project will also deliver a new neonatal and parent care unit, expanding the existing special care nursery for sick and preterm babies.
Barwon Health chief executive Frances Diver said the designs reflected feedback received through extensive community engagement, including input from local families and Wadawurrung traditional owners.
She said more than 600 ideas for the project were shared during consultation, including an online survey and workshops.
“We are closer to finalising the way Barwon Women’s and Children’s will look and feel which has been guided by input from our local community,” Ms Diver said.
“Barwon Women’s and Children’s is the largest investment in health infrastructure in the Geelong region – ever.
“We know this will better meet the needs of the community providing expanded services, better services and great working conditions, which is a win for everyone in our community.”
The new hospital is expected to meet the growing demand for maternity services, following the closure of Epworth’s Waurn Ponds maternity unit in 2023.
In January this year, St John of God Geelong’s maternity ward enacted a “birth bypass” amid staff shortages.
A KPMG report, released last month, found Geelong was in the midst of a baby boom with the region recording its highest ever number of births in 2024.
The 4120 births in the region last year represented a 7.6 per cent increase from 2023 and a massive 19.4 per cent jump since 2019 – both results far exceeded the regional Australian average.
The design of the long-awaited hospital, by project architect Lyons, is inspired by the Barwon River, You Yangs and Bellarine Peninsula.
The theme of water, as a symbol of life, is reflected in the stepped waterfall design of the facade and water droplet imagery.
The butterfly, River Red Gum, Manna Gum and possum skin cloak are also woven into the architecture to represent life cycles, healing and connection.
Delivered by the Victorian Health Building Authority in partnership with Barwon Health, the new Barwon Women’s and Children’s is expected to deliver modern and high-quality care.
It is expected to be completed by 2029.
Originally published as Revealed: Geelong’s $500m Barwon hospital designs unveiled
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