Fairfield Infectious Diseases Hospital

Fairfield Infectious Diseases Hospital was a medical facility in Yarra Bend with multiple brick buildings spread across 15 acres along the Yarra River, designed with isolation wards and treatment facilities. Today Melbourne Polytechnic operates on the grounds, while several original structures remain protected as heritage.

The facility opened in 1904 as Queens Memorial Infectious Diseases Hospital and operated until 1996, treating thousands of patients during major disease outbreaks. It became central to developing specialized approaches for managing infectious diseases across Australia.

The hospital served as a dedicated place where people with infectious diseases received specialized care, shaping how Victoria approached public health. Walking through the grounds today, you notice how the layout of buildings reflects the careful planning needed to manage such medical work.

The grounds are accessible to visitors today as Melbourne Polytechnic uses the site and original buildings remain visible. Visit during daytime hours when the campus is active to see the heritage structures and the landscape along the river.

The hospital was among the first places in Australia to develop HIV testing methods in the 1980s and housed the nation's last dedicated infectious disease ward. This shows how the facility stayed at the forefront of medical innovation throughout its operation.