Portside Vet Care | Veterinary Clinic Fitout

Portside Vet Care is a purpose built veterinary fitout in Port Melbourne, Victoria, designed to support a new independent veterinary practice within an existing tenancy.

After managing several established clinics, veterinarian James Blaszak wanted to take the next step and create a clinic of his own. OPTIMA supported the project from the earliest stages, helping assess and secure a suitable site, guide lease and due diligence requirements, manage planning and approvals, and deliver a complete veterinary clinic design and fitout. The result is a bright, modern and welcoming 193m2 clinic that supports efficient clinical workflows, a calm client experience and the level of veterinary care the practice was created to provide.

Project Story

Client Interview

Project summary

Details

Type: Veterinary clinic design and fitout

Size: 193m2

Location: Port Melbourne, Victoria

Features

3 consult rooms

Surgery room

Dog ward

Cat ward

Open plan treatment area

Reception

Separate dog and cat waiting areas

Pathology

Imaging room

Lab, plant & store rooms

Staff room

Admin office

Services

Strategy

Property advisory

Site identification and lease negotiation

Due diligence

Project documentation and approvals

Veterinary clinic design

Veterinary fitout

Explore the Project

“We’ve received a lot of really positive feedback from customers. Stepping into a clinic that feels modern and welcoming gives them confidence that we can provide the care their pets require. We’re really proud that we can now provide the level of veterinary care we strive for in a space that supports that vision.”

Dr James Blaszak
Portside Vet Care

Project Background

Turning a clear clinical vision into an independent veterinary practice

After managing several clinics, James Blaszak was ready to create a veterinary practice that reflected his own goals, clinical standards and long-term vision for patient care. He had identified strong potential in Port Melbourne, but needed specialist support to determine whether the right site could be found and transformed into a functional veterinary clinic.

Establishing a new practice required more than a good location. The site needed to support the operational demands of a veterinary clinic, including consultation, treatment, surgery, imaging, pathology, animal wards, staff spaces and client waiting areas.

The OPTIMA team helped assess potential sites, advise on suitability, support lease negotiation and complete the due diligence required to move forward with confidence. This early guidance gave James a clearer pathway through the parts of the process he was less familiar with, including council permits, approvals and the practical requirements of converting an existing shop into a veterinary facility.

Solution

A complete veterinary fitout shaped around care, workflow and confidence

OPTIMA worked with James from the earliest planning stages to turn the vision for Portside Vet Care into an achievable clinic design. While James had a strong idea of how he wanted the clinic to look and feel, the challenge was to translate that vision into a practical floor plan that could function efficiently within the existing 193m2 tenancy.

The vet clinic design process focused on creating a clinic that felt bright, clean and welcoming while still supporting the technical requirements of veterinary care. Three consult rooms were positioned to connect logically with the back-of-house clinical areas, allowing patients to move smoothly from consultation through to treatment, imaging, surgery or ward areas as required.

Separate dog and cat waiting areas were incorporated to help reduce stress for animals and create a more considered arrival experience for pet owners. Dedicated dog and cat wards were also included, supporting a more tailored approach to patient care and recovery within the clinic.

The open plan treatment area forms a central working zone for the team, with surrounding access to surgery, imaging and pathology. This layout was developed to support clear movement through the clinic and help staff work efficiently throughout the day. For James and his team, the completed space has improved the way patients move between consult rooms and clinical zones, making day-to-day care easier to deliver.

OPTIMA also guided the project through documentation, approvals and fitout delivery, providing a single point of communication throughout the build. Having one consistent project manager helped reduce the pressure on James as a new practice owner, limiting the need to coordinate multiple contractors and giving him confidence that issues could be addressed and resolved along the way.

The finished clinic is modern, open and professional, with a level of finish that supports both client confidence and staff pride. It gives Portside Vet Care a purpose built environment for high-quality veterinary care, and a strong foundation for the future of the practice.

Key benefits

The completed clinic gives Portside Vet Care the space, workflow and professional presence to support its next stage. The project delivered:

A purpose built veterinary clinic created within an existing shop tenancy
Early support with site suitability, lease negotiation, due diligence and approvals
A practical 193m2 floor plan with three consult rooms, surgery, imaging, pathology and treatment spaces
Separate dog and cat waiting areas and wards to support a calmer patient and client experience
Efficient clinical workflow between consult rooms, treatment, imaging and surgery
A bright, clean and welcoming environment that supports staff satisfaction and client confidence

For James, the project has turned an early vision for an independent veterinary clinic into a working reality.

Portside Vet Care now has a space that supports the standard of care the team wants to deliver each day.

Simplifying healthcare construction

Start with the right advice

Whether you are planning your first practice, expanding into a new location, or re-developing an established facility, early advice makes a meaningful difference.

OPTIMA supports practice owners from site selection through to opening day, providing clarity, guidance, and proven expertise at every stage.

Talk to our experienced projects team today – it’s never too early to get the right advice.

P: 1800 266 515

E: [email protected]