Veterinary Fitout Costs in Melbourne: Our 2024 Guide

Setting up or renovating a veterinary clinic involves unique challenges and considerations distinct from traditional medical practices. A well-designed veterinary fitout is crucial for ensuring a safe, efficient, and welcoming environment for both animals and their owners. From treatment rooms and surgical suites to waiting areas and specialised equipment, every detail plays a vital role in the successful operation of your practice.

The design and functionality of your clinic can significantly impact client satisfaction and operational efficiency. Whether you’re opening a new clinic or upgrading an existing one, understanding the costs involved and planning appropriately is key to delivering high-quality care and a positive client experience.

If you’re a veterinarian or animal specialist planning a clinic fitout, this guide will help you navigate the process. We’ll discuss the essential costs, highlight specific challenges, and provide tips to ensure your veterinary fitout meets all your professional needs.

The cost of fitting out a veterinary clinic can vary widely depending on the clinic's size, services offered, and level of customization. These costs can also fluctuate based on specific requirements and the quality of materials and equipment chosen. Most business owners can expect to pay the following:

Between $900-$1500 per sqm

While medical centres largely have similar building requirements across Victoria, individual centres may have specialised equipment or room designs depending on the type of animal medicine practised on site. Build code requirements also need to be considered. An exceptional fitout expert understands this and will balance all of these requirements within a reasonable budget.

Other Potential Fitout Costs

Below are some of the more specific costs associated with clinic fitouts. Keep in mind that every build is different and will have different needs.

• Permits & Approvals: If you seek to fitout a new space, you will need to obtain council approval. Knowing your space's current NCC classification will help you determine if additional changes need to be made to get the building up to standard (which could increase base fitout costs). For reference, most - but not all - medical practices fall under NCC building class 9a.
• Equipment Installation: Medical equipment must be installed and connected to services (plumbing, electrical, or gas) in a way that doesn’t create a hazard for patients and physicians. Additional work may be required for custom installations into floors or walls. 
• Toilets: Assurance that you have the correct number of standard, DDA, and ambulant-compliant toilets installed. Cost is dependent on the number of toilets required. Additional bathrooms may also need to be installed to meet the building code. 
• Sinks: For medical fitouts, at least one wash basin is required per consulting room (as per building code). 
• Parking: To meet the needs of daily traffic in and out of your medical centre, at least 4 onsite car parks per physician must be created. There are workarounds to this rule if your facility is within the vicinity of ample public parking (e.g. a shopping centre).

Case Study: Be Well

Outside of the above considerations, animal clinics also have other build requirements that may influence your budget and overall fitout design. These include:

• Examination Rooms & Surgical Suites: These areas are the most specialised spaces in your fitout, loaded with complex medical equipment which could vary depending on the practice. Where possible, our team looks to keep installation costs within budget and will forecast any structural issues that could impact the design of these spaces.
• Animal Holding Areas: Kennels and ages are necessary for housing animals pre and post-treatment. Costs can vary depending on kennel size and brand, anywhere between $150 - $1000 and up.
• Pharmacy & Labs: Space for preparing medications and conducting tests. Costs depend on the scope and equipment required.

That may seem like a lot of costs to consider upfront, but every veterinary fitout is different. Medical spaces also have their own set of building code requirements to meet. We have years of industry experience in Melbourne and know the regulations inside and out. We’ll help you get the most out of your fitout budget so you don’t get lost in the red tape of fitout construction.

Recommended Reading: Fitout Costs Explained: How to Not Break the Bank on Your Office Fitout

Now you know what to be on the lookout for, but what about those things a builder might not tell you about? Let’s explore them below.

Space Optimisation

Efficient use of space is crucial, especially in smaller clinics. Vets need to have the space and specialised equipment to treat animals of all shapes and sizes, office and break spaces for staff and holding areas for animals pre and post-surgery. A professional fitout expert can help design a layout that maximises functionality for staff while upholding animal wellbeing.

Material Lead Time

Lead time for certain materials can vary. While materials can be sourced locally, some items may need to be imported. At Canopy Fitouts we take a comprehensive approach to quoting and building your fitout. We forecast lead times wherever possible, and will suggest alternatives if you desire a speedier completion. 

Regulatory Bodies

With any construction project, approval from regulatory bodies will be required. Rather than taking on council fees, permit plans, and the potential red tape involved, our team will assist you and ensure the process is seamless. Don’t let neglected paperwork hold up your fitout.

Asbestos

Asbestos is the most hidden issue on this list. While it may not be an issue for your fitout, we’ll never really know until we get started on the project. At Canopy, we’ll do all early leg work to catch signs of potential asbestos and will help you get a professional to decontaminate the premises quickly.

Hidden Costs

We recommend allocating at least 30% of your budget to cover hidden services like the ones above. We will be as upfront as possible in the early stages of your build to help you avoid these costs later on.

Recommended Reading: 5+ Medical Centre Design Trends For 2024

At Canopy Fitouts, we understand the unique challenges and requirements of veterinary clinics. Our team is dedicated to helping you create a functional, efficient, and welcoming space for your practice. If you have any specific questions or are ready to get started on your fitout, speak with our knowledgeable team today.