Elisabeth Champion
Illumident, formerly known as Holmes Family Dental, has officially opened the doors to the new office.
Moving from Helen Street earlier this year, the Ferrers Street office was officially opened last week.
Owned by Dr Isabel Holmes and partner Rowan Williamson, the dental clinic has seen an old stone home given new life.
Dr Holmes was raised just across the border in Drik Drik, and has been practicing dentistry in Mount Gambier since 2012, where she started at the Ferrers Dental Surgery.
In 2017, she joined forces with Dr Mark Hutton on Helen Street, and took over the practice in 2018, creating Holmes Family Dental.
Now the clinic has expanded.
Helping to cut the ribbon was Mount Gambier Mayor Lynette Martin.
“I’m absolutely delighted to be here for the opening of Illumident Mount Gambier,” she said.
“29 Ferrers street sits between my mayoral office and my home, and so, I have seen this building transform to its former glory since renovations began in October 2021.
“The origins of the building date back over 100 years, and I congratulate Isabel and Rowan on their vision to transform this space into a state of the art dental practice.
“Care has been taken to preserve as many of the original features of this beautiful building as possible, and in particular, the gorgeous arch providing a stunning feature as you walk through the entrance.
“This has been fully restored as part of the project. The wainscot, panelling, cornices and doorframes were all crafted and assembled on site to match the vintage and add to the character of the building.
“Isabel and Rowan have created a Scandi feel in this grand old Mount Gambier stone Federation-style building, which now comprises eight treatment rooms along with all the other facilities necessary to create this state of the art dental practice.”
Mrs Martin said it was great to have a local leave for study and then return to the city.
“One of challenges for Mount Gambier is to encourage our youth to return to our city to live and work in their chosen field when they have completed their studies,” she said.
“So I’m particularly delighted that Isabel returned to Mount Gambier and brought with her a lovely and talented young man in her husband, Rowan.
“They have purchased a home, but importantly, they also have two young children and have settled into life in Mount Gambier and are contributing to our community in so many ways.“
