Coburg health and community services precinct

In December 2021, in response to growing shortfalls in local health services, and following extensive community consultation, Council decided to sell land on Bell Street for the purposes of delivering a health and community services precinct.  

You can read the 8 December 2021 Council Report and meeting minutes to find out more about this decision. 

Given the significance and level of community interest in this project, Council asked Coburg Health Hub Pty Ltd, the company delivering this project, to conduct additional engagement and to prepare a masterplan that captures key elements of the decision made by Council.

Coburg Health Hub carried out community and stakeholder engagement throughout May and June 2022 and feedback received incorporated into the Coburg Health Precinct Masterplan, endorsed by Council at the 10 August 2022 Council Meeting. You can read the Council Report, view the Masterplan and read the meeting minutes to find out more.

Council’s decision enabled Coburg Health Hub to do the necessary work to commence preparing a detailed plan for the site. This will be lodged through the formal statutory planning process, where Council will assess and consider it at a future meeting of the Planning and Related Matters Committee.

Why a health precinct for Coburg?   

The new health precinct responds to identified local gaps in key health and community services, including GPs, aged care, childcare, dental, and allied health services, which will be provided at the health precinct. 73% of submissions from the community supported the proposal to use this land for this purpose.

Through the development of the proposal, Council has negotiated with Coburg Health Hub to secure additional community outcomes:

  • A greater range of services accessible to all members of the Merri-bek community, including those on lower incomes. Over 50% of services in the new health precinct will be delivered by community providers and not for profit providers, such as Merri Health
  • The heritage listed bluestone cottage complex on the site will be retained by Council, and will be upgraded in consultation with Coburg Historical Society, with a financial and in-kind contribution to the refurbishment works provided by Coburg Health Hub.

Next steps for the Coburg health precinct

The Coburg Health Hub Pty have been working through all the requirements of the contract of sale.

In July 2024, a planning permit application was lodged for the health precinct. This is still working through various requirements prior to any public notice of the application occurring. The reference number for the planning permit application is MPS/2024/414, this can be tracked through Merri-bek’s online planning portal.

Council has commenced the design to refurbish and build a new Annex for the Bluestone Cottage.

Construction is expected to commence on site in 2025-2026.

Key steps to implementation include:

  • Mid 2024 - Coburg Health Hub submits development proposal.
  • Early to mid 2025 - Consideration of planning application (decision)
  • 2025-2026 - Commence staged construction of Coburg Health and Community Services Precinct.

The Bluestone Cottage and the Coburg Historical Society

In September 2023 Council resolved to refurbish the Coburg Bluestone Cottage, build a new multi-purpose facility and establish a new garden on the site.
The Coburg Bluestone Cottage is leased to the Coburg Historical Society, a unique community organisation that plays a key role in the preservation and communication of local history in the Merri-bek area. Coburg Historical Society have established the Coburg Bluestone Cottage as a local history museum, and maintain a significant local history collection.

Upcoming works

The upcoming redevelopment of the Coburg Bluestone Cottage complex will include:

  • Refurbishment of the existing internal and external heritage fabric of the bluestone cottage and its detached kitchen.
  • Establishment of a multi-purpose facility that is designed to facilitate the storage and display of historic material, and to be used as a meeting and work space.
  • Introduction of a new historic-themed garden on the site.

The redevelopment will ensure that the State-listed heritage fabric of the Coburg Bluestone Cottage is conserved as a Council asset.

In consultation with the Coburg Historical Society, Council has drafted the concept designs below.

Design concept showing a modern glass extension connecting to a historic bluestone cottage, with a landscaped path leading to the entrance.
Design concept of a modern glass building with a central entrance, surrounded by landscaped gardens, with a historic cottage visible in the background.
Design concept showing a view from inside a modern glass structure, with a historic cottage outside, and a covered walkway leading to another section of the building.

History

Coburg Bluestone Cottage and its detached historical kitchen is located at 82 Bell Street, Coburg. It was built in 1864 as a residential dwelling for local prison warder James Smith (one of seven cottages owned and occupied by Pentridge Prison warders) and occupied by a single family until 1981. It is one of few remaining examples of the local bluestone architecture of the era.

The Coburg Bluestone Cottage complex was originally acquired by Coburg Council as part of site assembly in 1981, and a lease was granted to the Coburg Historical Society in 1983.
In 1988 the bluestone cottage and its detached kitchen was listed on the Victorian Heritage Register.

Find out more about the Coburg Health Precinct

If you have any queries please contact the project team at CoburgHealthPrecinct@merri-bek.vic.gov.au or call 9240 1111.