1944
Fundraising for a local hospital commences and a provisional hospital committee forms.
1946
The Hospital Auxiliary forms.
1966
The Ballan and District Soldiers’ Memorial Bush Nursing Hospital opens.
1967
The Hospital closes.
1970
The Hospital reopens. The doctor’s residence and surgery are constructed on Simpson Street.
1977
The hospital is extended from 6 to 12 beds, creating the Molesworth Wing and other facilities.
1983
The Midwifery Service closes.
1985
The Committee purchases a block of land at 168 Inglis Street with a view to building a hostel or extending the hospital.
1989
The District Nursing Service commences.
1991
The 25th Anniversary is celebrated.
1992
The 29-bed Ballan Aged Care Hostel opens and the words ‘and Hostel’ are appended to the Ballan and District Soldiers’ Memorial Bush Nursing Hospital. 34 Cowie Street is purchased in anticipation of a retirement unit development.
1997
The Hyatt Close independent retirement units are completed. The hospital is redeveloped and the nursing home wing is extended.
1999
The Ballan and District Soldiers’ Memorial Bush Nursing Hospital and Hostel begins trading as Ballan District Health & Care. The Myers Terrace independent retirement units are completed.
2000
The Committee of Management purchases 159 Inglis Street: a new premises for the opportunity shop.
2001
The Committee of Management becomes a Board of Governance.
2003
The Board purchases 83 Simpson Street, adjacent to Hyatt Close. The new dementia unit opens.
2006
The 40th Anniversary is celebrated. Officiated by the Governor of Victoria, Professor David de Kretser.
2008
BDHC purchases Annean at 164 Inglis Street.
2009
The GP Super Clinic opens.
2011
The opportunity shop is redeveloped and renamed Opportunity on Inglis.
2013
The redeveloped hospital opens. Ballan District Health & Care purchases the Ballan Childcare Centre.
2014
The Primary Care Centre opens (including a rehabilitation gymnasium and hydrotherapy pool).
2015
The Infusion Room opens.
2016
A new WWI Memorial is established at 164 Inglis Street. The 50th Anniversary is celebrated.
In 1944, the Ballan community commenced their fundraising campaign to establish a local rural medical facility. Little did they know it would take 22 years of tireless effort to see the community’s dream come to fruition. Finally, in 1966, Ballan & District Soldiers’ Memorial Bush Nursing Hospital & Hostel Inc. was established, at a time when there were 24 Bush Nursing Hospitals and Hostels operating in Victoria. Now, trading as Ballan District Health & Care, we are one of only six remaining in Victoria and we continue the proud community owned and operated ‘Not for Profit’ legacy.
Today, Ballan District Health & Care is a thriving, contemporary health and aged care organisation offering an extensive range of holistic programs, services and facilities to look after the needs of babies and young children right through to Palliative Care.
The four major areas today include:
- Hospital
- Community Health services: Male and female GPs and Allied Health services, including a 10m x 8m hydrotherapy pool, a fully equipped gymnasium and a multipurpose room. Community members can use the pool and gymnasium facilities for rehabilitation, prehabilitation and to improve their general fitness
- Aged Care accommodation and services
- Community Childcare Centre
Ballan District Health & Care is administered by a Board of Governors, all of whom are skilled volunteers drawn from leadership roles within the corporate and community sectors. Ballan District Health & Care is owned by the community, through the Hospital Association. Membership application forms are available at Ballan Hospital reception. Our organisation is a registered charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission.