The milestone was marked with two significant occasions: a blessing ceremony led by Archbishop Anthony Ireland on 2 June, and an official opening ceremony on 19 June attended by Federal Assistant Minister for Health Rebecca White, MP and Health Minister Bridget Archer, MP, alongside Calvary’s national and Tasmanian leadership.

The redevelopment was born out of necessity. In February 2025, an announcement that maternity services at Hobart Private Hospital would cease, due to workforce challenges, triggered widespread community concern about the future of maternity care in the region.

Calvary answered that call. Over the following months, the organisation worked to transition around 600 births and welcomed new doctors and midwives, bringing together teams and cultures from two hospitals united by a shared commitment to safe, high-quality care. With the support of significant Federal and State Government funding, including a $2 million contribution, Calvary began an ambitious redevelopment of its Lenah Valley maternity unit.

The works expanded the ward’s capacity from around 450 to 900 births a year, adding a fifth birthing suite, a new Special Care Nursery, and a range of improvements to patient amenities and midwife work areas.

Calvary Lenah Valley’s connection to maternity care runs deep. The hospital was founded by the Sisters of the Little Company of Mary, who laid the foundation stone on the site — then farmland known as Kangaroo Valley — in November 1938. The hospital opened in December 1940, with its maternity ward following in October 1944.

From the outset, the Sisters placed a strong emphasis on collaboration with the medical profession and excellence in midwifery care. Within the unit’s first eight years, the hospital celebrated 5,000 births without the loss of a single mother — a remarkable achievement that speaks to the standard of care established from the very beginning.

That legacy continues today in a unit that is, in the words of Director of Clinical Services Leah Magliano, “vibrant and busy, meeting the growing needs of Hobart families.”

Calvary leaders are quick to acknowledge the many people whose work made the redevelopment possible. Particular thanks go to project lead Saman Borazjani, whose calm and focused leadership keeps the project moving, and Maternity Nurse Unit Manager Sally Jarvis, whose passion ensures every detail of the new ward reflects the highest standards of care.

Calvary Regional Chief Operating Officer for Hospitals VIC/TAS, Melissa Evans, reflected on the strength of the partnerships that underpinned the project: “Throughout the last 14 or so months there has been genuine collaboration and teamwork with our partners in care.” She also acknowledged the critical role played by both the Federal and State Governments, whose early and sustained support made the renovation possible.

Calvary also thanked its construction partners for completing the works on time and within budget, as well as the Tasmanian Health Service, the Royal Hobart Hospital, and the team at Hobart Private Hospital for their collaboration throughout the transition.

With the renovation complete, Calvary Lenah Valley Hospital stands ready to support the next generation of Hobart families. As Melissa Evans put it, the hospital is “a very strong option for all local new mothers to consider — one that reflects quality, care, and confidence in the service we provide.”

The blessing and opening ceremonies were a fitting tribute to a project that, much like the hospital’s founding nearly 90 years ago, was made possible by collaboration, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to the care of mothers and babies across southern Tasmania.