About WDHS Menu

Western District Health Service (WDHS) is based in Hamilton, Coleraine and Penshurst, in the Western District of Victoria. WDHS incorporates Frances Hewett Community Centre, Grange Residential Care Service, Hamilton Base Hospital, Coleraine and District Health Service (CDHS), Penshurst & District Health Service (PDHS) and YouthBiz. The entity provides in total 96 acute beds, 170 high and low level extended care and residential aged care beds, 35 Independent Living Units, community health and youth services.

WDHS was established in 1998, with the amalgamation of Hamilton Base Hospital and Penshurst & District War Memorial Hospital, now PDHS. In 2005 CDHS amalgamated with WDHS.

Hamilton Base Hospital and Benevolent Asylum was established in 1862. The most recent changes have seen a major acute hospital refurbishment in 1996 and redevelopment of allied health, extended care and education facilities in 1999/2000.

The Birches extended care facility is on the HBH site and provides 45 beds for mainly high-care use and caters for people with special needs.

The Penshurst Hospital was built in 1957 and provides acute care, residential aged accommodation and community services, and manages independent living units at Penshurst and Dunkeld.

The Coleraine and District Hospital was opened on its present site in 1935. It provides acute care, residential aged accommodation and community services, manages independent living units in Coleraine and has a Bush Nursing Centre at Merino.

Frances Hewett Community Centre (FHCC) was established in 1987. The centre is now managed by WDHS and provides a broad range of community-based services. FHCC is located in Roberts Street, next to Hamilton Base Hospital.

The Grange was built as a private hospital in 1927 and became an aged care hostel in 1956. Its recent three-stage redevelopment was completed in 2002 and provides 45 beds of modern, high and low-level aged care accommodation and 20 Community Aged Care Packages.

YouthBiz was established in 1997 by Southern Grampians Community Health Services Inc, which amalgamated with Hamilton Base Hospital later that same year. YouthBiz provides a drop in centre and a wide range of health and recreation services to the young people of our community.