Along this journey, so many have done so much. Patients are now in the new hospital. Every step of the way, community input has shaped this magnificent facility. History was made today. I felt pretty emotional. I know my great-grandmother Linda Vipont, who campaigned for, fundraised and volunteered for the first hospital would be enormously proud. โค๏ธ To everyone in our community and our healthcare workers - thank you. Be proud. Be excited. We made this happen.
The new Footscray Hospital is now open! On time, on budget. Proudly delivered by the Allan Labor Government.
This was the day the Labor Government announced we would deliver a new Footscray Hospital. It was the 7th October, 2018. Time does fly, but tonight I’m reflecting on the countless community meetings, briefings about architecture, location and service provision. I’m thinking about how we shaped a new hospital to be so much more than a world class hospital. We wanted a park. Childcare. A gym. Views. Light open spaces and art. Connection to the university for westies to pursue careers in health. I’m thinking about the kind patience of neighbours and those cranes that we named that took over our skyline. I’m thinking of the @footscrayps students who helped plant the first of 55,000 trees and plants. There’s the time capsule and the magnificent cardboard hospitals local school students built as part of their science projects. We wanted a place that was utterly proud to belong to Footscray. When I walk around the new hospital I’m filled with pride for our community. @westernhealthau have done a spectacular job planning the transition and world class care. We did it. This is making things happen on a grand scale and everyone in our community should be chuffed! Katie PS - My then five week old son is now a happy seven year old. During the pandemic we would walk to the site and peer in, marvelling at all the diggers, dig-digging. ๐Ÿšœ
Tomorrow! ๐Ÿฅ Footscray, your new, beautiful hospital opens tomorrow!
It’s the Year of the fire Horse! ๐Ÿด ๐Ÿ”ฅ This rare 60-year combination symbolizes a time of high energy, rapid movement, and bold action. Tomorrow we do something very bold - we open the new Footscray Hospital. It was an honour to join my colleagues and the Premier with tens of thousands of members of our Vietnamese community last night to celebrate. Chúc mแปซng nฤƒm mแป›i 2026!
FOOTSCRAY! Big, big news, in a big news week for the inner west. The first round of Pick My Park is delivering for the inner west. We will be upgrading: ๐ŸŒณ Raleigh Street Park, Footscray, making the pocket park permanent with new green open space in the heart of Footscray ๐ŸŒณ Johnson Reserve, West Footscray, with a new nature play zone ๐ŸŒณ Corner Albert Street and Charles, Seddon, woody meadows pocket park ๐ŸŒณ Uniting Bell Reserve, Kingsville, connecting two sections of the park with paths and planting ๐ŸŒณ Harris Reserve, Seddon, park shelter, picnic space, lighting and water fountain ๐ŸŒณ Hansen Reserve, West Footscray, a new youth recreation area with basketball half courts, skating and shelter area ๐ŸŒณ Beevers Reserve, Kingsville, new play space and BBQ area, heritage inspired design ๐ŸŒณ Bellairs Park, Yarraville, new lawn, plantings, nature play and ๐Ÿถ off lead times ๐ŸŒณ Clarke Street, West Footscray, flexible park and picnic adjacent to Barkly Village ๐ŸŒณ JA McDonald Reserve, West Footscray, new seating and low fencing around the playground for safety. Super proud of this one. We will be providing funding to Council to deliver these projects.
The New Footscray Hospital photography exhibition ‘Of Place: Connections to Nature and Wellbeing’ was celebrated, recognising the creative talent of our western suburbs before our new hospital opens! Congratulations to the prize winners: Youth prize (primary): Louis Dugas – Stepping Stones Youth prize (secondary): Alec Skladzien – Cheetham Fairy Wren Third prize: Solas Winters – Glorious Moments Second prize: Maria Kocsis – Tiny Worlds First prize: Simone Panepinto – Harmony in Nature And a big thank you to the 250+ locals who entered the photography competition. You will be able to see some these amazing photos displayed throughout your new Footscray Hospital once it opens on Wednesday next week!
Hello, West Footscray! We want to hear from you… How can we improve Tottenham Station? Follow the link in my bio to have your say!
This time next week, @westernhealthau will be transferring 180+ patients from the current hospital to the new one. It’s a major logistical undertaking, but I know that the care those patients and their families will receive, will be world class. We are grateful to all of those staff. Years of planning will ensure this momentous day runs smoothly. I love that the new hospital also celebrates Footscray’s history. I was proud to show the Premier @jacintaallanmp, the Faces of Footscray and heritage display at the entrance from the car park - and to point out the artwork from @footscrayarts when we thanked the staff getting ready for the big move.
Are we nearly there yet? YES ๐Ÿ™Œ The bigger, better, brand new Footscray Hospital opens next week on Wednesday. I’m so proud that we are finally here. We made it happen. With $1.5 billion and 8 years of design, planning and construction. Thousands of workers, community input, 55,000 plants and trees, renewable energy, a public park, childcare, a gym, artwork, a research facility for VU… it’s so much more than a hospital. Now it will belong to the people of the west, and the magnificent @westernhealthau workers. It’s a transformational investment in public health care, for the west - proudly delivered by the Allan Labor Government.