Mt Waverley GP Peter Castran has died aged 93

A Mt Waverley doctor who delivered thousands of babies and helped establish Waverley Private Hospital has died, aged 93. The beloved GP established his clinic when the area was surrounded by dirt roads and orchards — and it’s still operating today.

Mt Waverley GP Peter Castran, pictured with his wife Lorna, has died at the age of 93.

Tributes have flowed for a pioneering Mt Waverley doctor who delivered thousands of babies and helped establish Waverley Private Hospital.

Peter Gus Castran, who worked as a GP in Mt Waverley for more than 50 years, died on May 27, aged 93.

Born in Winnipeg Canada on September 14, 1925, Peter moved to Australia in 1948 to study medicine at Melbourne University.

Son Paul said his dad spent time working in Mildura, where one of his contemporaries

was the great Weary Dunlop.

Peter graduated in 1953 and spent time working at the Royal Melbourne, Royal Women’s and Royal Children’s Hospital.

During that time he met his future wife Lorna, who was a nurse, and they married on April 27 1956.

He then bought a property at 16 Alexander St Mt Waverley, just behind Stephensons Rd, at the back of Hamilton Place and opened up the Mount Waverley Clinic, which is still running today.

Lorna and Peter outside the Mt Waverley clinic in 1985.

“Half of the roads were not made, there were a lot of orchards — some of the roads were concrete but most were mud,” Paul said.

His car regularly got bogged on the unmade road of the corner of Stephenson and High St roads.

“Dad would put chains on his wheels, like you would to go up to the snow, just to do house calls and he would work all the time.

“He then built a new building there, his practice was very successful, mum worked on the front desk and they formed a great union.”

Paul said over his career, his dad had probably delivered more than 10,000 babies.

He said when he caught the train to school, other students would often tell him ‘Your dad delivered me’, or ‘Your dad is my family doctor.’

“They were the biggest and busiest practice in Mt Waverley,” Paul said.

Peter Castran in his younger years.

He worked as a GP for more than 50 years.

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Peter kept working until he was 85, and delivered three generations of babies.

“He would get birthday cards from all the people he delivered on his birthday,” Paul said.

He said his dad was part of “the rat pack back of Mt Waverley” during the time, that included pharmacist Doug Mason, the Lord Mayor of Waverley, Neil Neilson, from Neilson Holden, and Geoff Sutherland, who owned Stockdale and Lego in Stephensons Rd.

“These are people who were part of the fabric when Waverley was forming into the bustling city it is now,” Paul said.

Paul said his dad was very instrumental in Waverley Private Hospital getting a permit and setting up.

Peter and Lorna Castran in 2015.

He said his dad loved to ski, loved food, and loved spending time with his family.

“He was very calm, always reliable always smiling — all my life that’s how he was,” Paul said.

“He never complained and he just had a lovely energy.

“That’s why he was so successful — he used to say he was there to get people out of trouble.

“People would come to him with all sorts of problems and he would diagnose them.”

Peter was nominated for an Order of Australia Medal but as he was never an Australian citizen, and only a permanent resident, he was not eligible.

He was married to Lorna for 59 years until her death in 2015, aged 85.

The couple had three sons, John, Paul and David, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

His funeral will be held at WD Rose Nepean Highway Brighton on Thursday June 6 at 2.30pm. All welcome to attend.