A year since works first began on the Caroline Chisholm Drive site, Cobaw Community Health’s new Kyneton home has now been completed.
The purpose-built new facility, made possible by a $9.7M grant from the Victorian Government’s Regional Health Infrastructure Fund, will replace Cobaw’s main office at 47 High Street.
“This vital part of local infrastructure gives us the capacity to provide a greater range of allied health and community services with significant increases in clinical spaces to meet increased service demand,” said Cobaw CEO Margaret McDonald.
The interesting mix of exterior cladding and intricate brickwork was designed to reference the local history, architecture, flora and the landscape of the Macedon Ranges.
“The grey cladding references the bluestone rock and brickwork found extensively in the area as well as the many farm sheds seen in towns across the region,” Ms McDonald said.
“The curves of the brick arches are a nod to the shop fronts of the old buildings as well as to hills of the local environment and the gold glass references Kyneton’s history as a service town for the goldfields. The internal colours reflect the colours of the natural landscape of the hills, rivers, trees and earth.”
The building is clearly visible as you come off the freeway and the entrance to Cobaw faces the Kyneton Health site, accessed via additional parking that has been added to the existing car park.
All of Cobaw’s services will be available in the new building including counselling, family and parenting support, homelessness support, LGBTIQA+ groups, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech pathology.
In addition, there will be a number of co-located and visiting services including the Centre for Non-Violence and Centrelink that will grow over the coming months with the increased space.
Despite the doors currently being closed to all of its sites including at Romsey and Woodend, Cobaw continues to deliver all of its programs and services via telehealth and in person where necessary.
