Jamestown Medical Centre
- 1971: Medical services in Jamestown began in the home of Dr L. Verco, who provided care directly from his private residence.
- 1978: Dr Shepherd joined the practice and, like Dr Verco, initially consulted from his home. He later built a small surgery and waiting room at his property, with reception set up in his front entrance.
- 1980: Dr Verco retired, and Dr G. Tucker moved from Peterborough to continue consulting from the same residence.
- A turning point occurred when a transportable Atco building was added to the property. This space soon became a dedicated reception and administration area.
- 1991: Dr Tucker relocated to Yorketown, and plans began to formalise medical facilities in town.
Recognising the growing needs of the community, Dr Shepherd partnered with Fred Wohlfeil, previous CEO of Jamestown Hospital, to design a purpose-built health facility. With a mix of government and community funding, their vision came to life.
- 31 July 1992: The Jamestown Health Centre officially opened. The centre included consulting rooms, a treatment area, physiotherapy and podiatry rooms, space for visiting specialists, a children’s playroom, an ambulance station, and a large community meeting room.
- 1993–2006: The practice continued to grow, with the addition of staff like Dr Rowena Conway and further renovations. In 2006, western extensions provided more office space and upgraded consulting rooms.
- 2011–2012: A GP Super Clinics grant allowed the centre to expand again—adding more consulting and examination rooms, a meeting room, kitchen, and improved patient facilities. The extension was officially opened by Mr M. Prior on 11 October 2012.
- 2014: The reception and administration areas were remodelled to better accommodate patient flow and privacy, with upgraded fittings and security.
Today, Jamestown Medical Centre is a modern rural practice, offering comprehensive medical care while retaining the personal, community-focused approach it was built on.
Orroroo Medical Centre
Healthcare in Orroroo has a long and proud tradition of community service. For many years, the Orroroo Health Centre was operated by the Yorke and Northern Local Health Network (Y&NLHN), primarily staffed by locum doctors. However, ongoing challenges in sourcing reliable locum coverage, combined with a strong community desire for more consistent and continuous care, led to a new approach.
In 2020, following a successful six-month trial period that began in 2019, Y&NLHN and Goyder’s Line Medical (GLM) established a hybrid public-private model to ensure the sustainability of GP services in the region. Under this model, GLM took over the day-to-day operations of the general practice consulting side of the Orroroo Medical Clinic, while Y&NLHN continued to support the facility through building maintenance, infrastructure, and collaboration with public health services.
Today, the Orroroo Medical Clinic still remains privately operated by GLM. Located in the heart of town, the clinic provides comprehensive general practice services to Orroroo and its surrounding communities. While operating independently from the Orroroo and District Health Service (hospital), the clinic maintains a close working relationship with hospital staff to support inpatient care and emergency services.
The clinic is staffed by a rotating team of GLM doctors, supported by a dedicated group of local nurses and administrative staff. Bulk billing is offered to pensioners, concession card holders, and DVA patients, with private billing available for other patients.
GLM also welcomes visiting public health providers and continues to share the facility with Y&NLHN services.
Peterborough Medical Centre
Peterborough has long been a vital part of our regional healthcare network and holds a special place in the early story of Goyder’s Line Medical (GLM).
For many years, general practitioners served the Peterborough community through locally based private practices. Notably, Dr G. Tucker ran a longstanding private clinic in the town before relocating to Jamestown in 1980.
The Peterborough Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital continues to provide acute care and emergency services, offering essential support to the local community.
In the years that followed, GLM proudly delivered medical services to Peterborough. However, in 2021, like many rural towns across South Australia, we faced a critical GP workforce shortage, which led to the temporary closure of the Peterborough clinic.
Despite this challenge, GLM remains committed to supporting patients from Peterborough through our nearby Jamestown and Orroroo clinics.
As of August 2025, Goyder’s Line Medical (GLM) will complete its formal withdrawal from Peterborough, following prolonged and critical GP workforce shortages.
This decision was not made lightly, and we recognise the impact it may have on the local community. While the future of local service delivery remains uncertain, we are responsibly concluding our involvement and have provided relevant handover information to local health providers in the hope that essential care can continue.
To the people of Peterborough thank you for the many years of trust and support. While we no longer operate directly in the town, we look forward to continuing your care—just a little further down the road!