Prior to WW1 the hills was serviced by Dr Simpson from Ferntree Gully. During WW1 the nearest available doctor in an emergency was Dr. Langley in Ringwood.

In 1919 Dr. D.I. Carlile set up practice in Belgrave and was the first to provide medical services to the higher hills. He received an annual subsidy of 200 pounds from the local council.

Dr H. Bourne took over Dr. Carlile's practice in 1920 and lived and consulted from Sister Key's house which she subsequently developed into a hospital. This was next to the Post Office.

Dr. Shirley Francis bought the practice in 1922 and according to David Francis, who is Dr. Francis' youngest son, his father consulted from a rented room in Sister Gallagher's hospital whilst his home and surgery was being built. Sister Gallagher's hospital was on the block of land now occupied by Safeways.

There is confusion as to where the practice was housed in the early days; either Sister Keys or Sister Gallagher? Sister Gallagher house/hospital was still in existence in 1966 and the Belgrave Kindergarten was shifted from Tecoma to the back of the block which fronted onto the carpark.