What is happening at the hospital?

Austin Hospital is upgrading its Emergency Department to support 30,000 more patients every year.

Why is the construction happening?

Austin Hospital is upgrading its Emergency Department. The upgrade will support an additional 30,000 patients each year, ensuring the hospital can meet the needs of the growing local population. 

Are any parts of the hospital closing during construction?

The hospital will stay fully open during the emergency department upgrade, but construction will change how you enter and move around parts of the hospital.

From September 2025 until 2028 the front entrance to both Austin Hospital & Mercy Hospital for Women will be closed. The area outside the front entrance will be closed to pedestrians and vehicles.

Areas of the Austin Hospital front foyer, including the front entrance, will be closed during the construction works. You will still be able to move between Austin Hospital and Mercy Hospital and access Cafe Adamo on Level 1 of Austin Hospital by using the visitor lifts within the Austin Tower car park.

Are any lifts at Austin Hospital closing during construction?

The Austin Tower car park lifts are closed during construction. Patients coming from the Austin Tower car park can access the hospital by using the Austin Tower visitor lifts within the car park, which go to all eight floors of Austin Tower.

Is Adamo Café still open?

Yes, Adamo Café is still open and can be accessed by taking the Austin Tower visitor lifts to Level 1.

Will the Austin Health Reception still be open?

During construction the Austin Health Reception will not be open.

If Reception is closed, how can I find where I need to go in the hospital?

Appropriate wayfinding and signage will be put in place to help you get where you need to go. Our wonderful volunteers will also be on site to help direct you as needed.

We are setting up phones near the Austin Tower visitor lifts on levels B1, B2, and B3, as well as multiple locations on level 1. Patients and visitors can use these phones to be connected directly with the Austin Hospital switchboard, who will be able to assist with directions and queries.

You can also find information about where you need to go in the hospital on here on our website.

How long is the front entrance going to be closed?

From September 2025 until 2028 the front entrance to both Austin Hospital & Mercy Hospital for Women will be closed.

How can I get into the hospital?

Whether you are coming by car, taxi, public transport or by foot, the best way to get into Austin Hospital will be through the Austin Tower car park entrance on Studley Road. The Austin Tower visitor lifts in the back left corner of the car park go to all eight floors of Austin Tower.

Where can I get dropped off and picked up?

The car drop off / pick up area is located on level B3 of the Austin Tower car park, with entry via Studley Road. You can access the Hospital by using the Austin tower visitor lifts in the back left corner of the car park. These lifts go to all eight floors of Austin Tower.

Where can I get a taxi?

The Austin Hospital taxi rank is on Studley Road, outside the Austin Tower car park. A taxi call point can be found on level B3 of the car park, near the vehicle entrance and exit.

Is there still parking available at the hospital?

The Austin Tower car park is still operational. Patients and visitors are asked to park on levels B1, B2 and B3.

The lifts in the centre of the car park are closed, how do I get from the car park into the hospital?

The car park lifts, located in the centre of the car park, will be unavailable during construction. People entering the hospital should instead use the Austin Tower visitor lifts located in the back left corner of the car park. These lifts go to all eight floors of Austin Tower.

Can I still get from Austin Hospital to the Mercy Hospital for Women?

Yes, you will be able to move between the Austin Hospital and the Mercy Hospital for Women by using a dedicated access tunnel on Level 1 of Austin Hospital.

At what time of day will construction be happening?

Most construction will take place between 7am and 5.30pm, Monday to Saturday. During these times you may hear construction noise within the hospital. There will be times when night works are required.

Will you be able to hear construction noise within the hospital?

During construction there may be times you will hear construction noise but every effort will be made to minimise these impacts.

What is being done to reduce the impact of the construction?

We understand these works will cause some disruption and inconvenience. Every effort will be made to minimise impacts and to ensure the safety of patients, staff and visitors during construction.

Acoustic hoarding and other sound and vibration mitigation measures will be in place, and construction will only occur during approved construction hours.

Appropriate wayfinding and signage will be put in place to help people get where they need to go. Pedestrians and motorists are asked to remain alert around the construction site and follow any signage in place.

Who is in charge of construction?

The project is being delivered by the Victorian Health Building Authority in partnership with Austin Health and Mercy Health.

Thank you for your patience as we work to improve Austin Hospital.