Community
5 March, 2025
Business unveils new facilities in Cobden
CURDIE Street has just gotten livelier with the opening of an expansion for Hampden Vet Clinic in Cobden, moving from their previous smaller location down the road.
Western District Newspapers previously reported on the commencement of construction for the new site of Hampden Veterinary Clinic in Cobden, designed to give both the staff and the community a better experience at the clinic.
Partner and veterinarian Anthony Down said it had been a long but rewarding journey to their new opening.
“It’s been a busy couple of weeks,” he said.
“Transitioning from one clinic to another takes a bit of organisation and time.
“We’ve had a couple of busy weekends putting together bits and pieces, then opening week was busy with animals in cases, and we were juggling all this as well as getting some new processes in place.
“The ideas for the new clinic was first formulated about three years ago and then we purchased the hardware store site.
“There’s been progress since then, but the actual build has probably been the last 18 months or so.”
Including their second clinic in Warrnambool, Mr Down said the business had expanded rapidly.
“Across our clinic in Warrnambool and here in Cobden we have 12 full-time vet equivalents and then another 13 support staff including nurses, office staff, managers and assistants,” he said.
“It’s grown pretty rapidly in the last three years, it’s probably doubled in size.
“Now we’ve got a bit more space, we’ve got a dedicated radiology suite and a dedicated dental suite – we’re doing the same procedures as we were before but providing a better workflow and a better environment for the staff.”
Overall, the community has been excited about the new clinic, according to Mr Down.
“The feedback has been really positive,” he said.
“Everyone’s been in for a sticky beak or had a look and it’s created a bit of interest in the town.
“This place has been a blank canvas for so long, it was one of the reasons why we were keen to build in town too, to help bring people in to the main street and maintain vibrant rural community.”
Associate veterinarian Chelsea Skuza had recently returned from a holiday and was shocked by how much easier the new clinic made navigating the workplace.
“The way that we’ve been working with our multiple suites has made everything so streamlined and efficient,” she said.
“Things are getting done quicker, it makes life easier.”
Alongside clinic improvements, Hampden Veterinary Clinic have also built on-site accommodation on the premises to take students on placement from around Victoria and elsewhere.
“We take students from all over Victoria and a few interstate who come here for practical work, so now we can offer them accommodation on site, they don’t have to go and find somewhere else,” Mr Down said.
“We’ve also got our University of Melbourne teaching contracts, so some University of Melbourne vet students will come down for a week or two and they’ll go out with our vets which will form a part of their structured placement for vet school.
“We can accommodate three students.”
Partner and veterinarian David Buckle said he wanted to acknowledge the local trades for the fantastic work they completed on the clinic.
“Our local trades were fantastic with regards to the build,” he said.
“Our builder was Robert's Builders and everyone that worked under him, they’ve done a fantastic job.
“It’s good to bring life to this building again.
“It was probably three years it was essentially vacant and so I think everyone’s enjoyed the fact it’s started a new lease of life.”
U3A Corangamite were among those eager to see the new renovations, with members treated to a tour of the new clinic prior to opening.
Member of U3A Corangamite Gary Kimber said the new clinic will be an “amazing asset to Cobden and the wider community”.
“This is an amazing total renovation of the former Martin’s Hardware side,” he said.
“Partner and veterinarian Xavier McKinnon led the tour and outlined the vision for the new clinic.
“Rest assured everyone’s pets and animals will be so well looked after.”
Read More: Cobden