The Best National and Local Hospitality Operators, Specialist Clinics Join $1.5B Hospital Precinct

Some of the best local and national retail, commercial and private practice health clinic operators have joined the $1.5 billion new Footscray Hospital precinct as it nears completion by the end of the year and to be open to the public in February 2026. 

The precinct will include more than 9,000sqm of retail, commercial and specialist health offerings including cafes, a pharmacy, a gym, a convenience store, and a range of private practice health clinics. 

Seventeen tenancies have been confirmed so far including well-known local and national brands HealthSmart Pharmacy, Shuji Sushi, Alleyway Kitchen, Zuppa, Milk & Moss operated by expert local operator Continental Hospitality Group, and a Western Bulldogs-themed childcare centre to care for 90 children for hospital workers and the local community. 

Chair of the Plenary Health entity developing the precinct, Kelvyn Lavelle, said the strong retail offerings add further amenity to the many public spaces included in the precinct. 

“We are delivering, as part of the new Footscray Hospital project, a vibrant, welcoming and community-focused hospital precinct that will welcome everyone,” Mr Lavelle said. 

“The site has been designed to be accessible and permeable. It’s directly connected to Victoria University’s Footscray campus and will allow pedestrians easy-to-navigate entry points and walkways to access the new commercial tenancies adjacent to the public facility.  

“The typically entrepreneurial spirit of this diverse community has seen strong interest in servicing the estimated daily footfall of up to 5,000 people across the VU campus and hospital precinct.” 

More than $50 million is being invested by Plenary and its commercial partners in developing and fitting out of the retail and commercial spaces. It demonstrates the value capture and urban renewal benefits of private sector investing alongside government. 

“Plenary’s significant investment is a demonstration of the private sector’s willingness to invest alongside the Victorian Government on community-shaping projects; effectively an investment multiplier opportunity when private capital is engaged in the delivery of significant public infrastructure.,” Mr Lavelle said. 

A highlight tenancy is the Little Social Café, a café run by local social enterprise Youth Projects. The café provides young people with hands-on skills and mentoring from industry experts, providing young people in Melbourne’s west to build gain key employment skills and work experience, and all profits from the cafe will be reinvested into Youth Projects’ youth and homelessness programs. 

The new Footscray Hospital precinct is one of the largest single investments in health infrastructure in Victoria. It is being delivered by the Plenary Group-led Plenary Health consortium in partnership with the Victorian Government and Western Health. 

The new facility will enable around 15,000 additional patients to be treated and around 20,000 more people to be seen by the emergency department each year. Plenary is also delivering and managing the commercial spaces. 

The only remaining available spaces include one final F&B tenancy, a showroom, and specialist medical and allied health clinics. 

Interested parties in the remaining specialist clinics tenancies can contact CBRE and for the remaining cafe and showroom tenancies can contact Fitzroys.