With the demand for healthcare continuing to rise in Melbourne’s fast-growing northern growth corridor, the Northern Hospital is undergoing a major redevelopment.

The Victorian Government has committed $813 million to deliver the Northern Hospital Redevelopment Project as part of the Victorian Emergency Department Expansion Program.

The project, which aims to deliver expanded and improved facilities and enhanced service delivery to meet the needs of the growing local community, will be delivered in two stages over the next six years to ensure minimal disruption to patient care.

The first stage, which commenced last week with the closure of the Southern Afternoon Carpark, comprises the construction of the Ambulatory Care Centre Building (ACC). When completed, the ACC building will house administration, clinical and outpatient health services decanted from the old hospital and portables from the northern part of the hospital campus.

This stage will begin with the demolition of the old childcare centre. Stage one is expected to be completed by mid-2026. The completion of Stage 1 is a key enabling activity for the second stage of the Northern Hospital Redevelopment Project.

Stage two involves the construction of a new emergency department and inpatient units tower fronting Cooper Street. This stage is due for completion in late 2029, and includes:

• Emergency department with dedicated paediatric zone, mental health, alcohol and other drugs hub
• Inpatient units and emergency observation unit in a new clinical tower
• Site infrastructure upgrades supporting the expanded hospital including engineering services, improvements to hospital entrances and car parks

Northern Hospital Epping has the busiest emergency department in Victoria, treating more than 110,000 patients each year. Northern Health cares for over 114,000 patients admitted to hospital each year, with over 34,000 patients arriving by ambulance.

This two-stage project will enable local families to have access to healthcare close to home as Melbourne’s north continues to grow. The project will also help meet the growing healthcare needs of Melbourne’s north, and deliver expanded and improved facilities and enhanced services to the community.

For more information about the project, please click here.

Featured image: Artist impression of Ambulatory Care Centre Building.