Mackay Base Hospital master plan sets a long-term vision for regional healthcare

A new master plan for the expansion of Mackay Base Hospital in Queensland, Australia has been unveiled, setting a considered, long-term direction for healthcare infrastructure in one of the state’s fastest-growing regions.

Designed by Hassell in partnership with Health Infrastructure Queensland and Mackay Hospital and Health Service, the master plan establishes a framework for how the hospital campus can evolve over decades, growing and adapting with the needs of the city of Mackay and the wider Greater Whitsunday community in a way that is responsive to both the tropical environment and regional contextual needs.

Stage 1 will deliver at least 128 new overnight beds, along with expanded emergency, maternity, birthing, surgical, endoscopy, neonatal and paediatric services, add a new Mackay Birth Centre, up to 1,000 additional car parks and a rooftop helipad. Construction is expected to begin in 2027, with Stage 1 works completed by 2030.

Hassell’s approach considers the hospital as a living campus where new and existing facilities are woven together thoughtfully over time. This staged, adaptive framework allows the hospital to respond to shifting models of care, emerging technologies and future demand, ensuring it remains resilient as a critical piece of regional healthcare infrastructure.

For a community experiencing rapid growth, the master plan is fundamentally about bringing care closer to home. Expanded maternity, birthing, neonatal and paediatric services mean more families can be supported locally, at some of life’s most significant moments. Greater surgical, emergency and inpatient capacity strengthens the hospital’s ability to care for the community as it grows and changes.

At its heart, the master plan is a framework for growing well — creating a healthcare campus that is more connected, more capable, and better equipped to support the people of Mackay and the Greater Whitsunday region, now and into the future.