Our History

Gribbles Pathology celebrates 70 years of service to the South Australian community in 2006. In 1936, Dr Eugene McLaughlan established a small laboratory in his rooms in Gawler Chambers, North Terrace, Adelaide, as an adjunct to his practice as a specialist physician. This was the first private pathology laboratory to be established in South Australia. With slow but steady growth, Dr McLaughlan recognised the need for assistance and recruited Dr Michael Gribble from England to join him in 1961. Over the years the techniques and equipment used in clinical pathology gained a more prominent place in patient diagnosis and management. Workloads began to expand, with the number of specimens processed increasing from just 12,000 in 1961 to more than 160,000 a decade later. With this dramatic growth a number of pathologists joined Dr Gribble and eventually the ‘Dr Gribble and partners’ was shortened to ’Gribbles’, the name by which our pathology service is still known.

Gribbles have a fleet of courier cars collecting specimens from hospitals, patient centres, doctors’ surgeries, and the homes of housebound patients. Along with 51 Patient Collection Centres, Gribbles Pathology has 14 branch laboratories situated in a number of metropolitan hospitals and in various outlying centres, ranging as far afield as Broken Hill, Whyalla and Mt Gambier.

Inevitably, the size and complexity of Gribbles Pathology outgrew the medical partnership model. The corporate era began with the purchase of Gribbles Pathology by Wallace Cameron in 1987. He developed interstate and overseas operations and diversified into veterinary pathology and general analytical services. Gribbles Pathology became a listed public company in 2001.

In 2004 Gribbles Pathology was purchased by Healthscope Limited, thereby establishing an alliance between hospital and pathology services. This affiliation is restoring the balance of service provision to both general practitioners and specialists in South Australia. We value a close association with specialists, as their input is useful when considering the role of new technologies in the provision of pathology services.

Throughout these 70 years, Gribbles Pathology has remained committed to the whole of South Australia, and more recently beyond. Our pathologists, laboratory scientists and technologists, clerical and nursing staff, and couriers, all strive to provide a quality service with the highest standards of accuracy. In this respect we wish to maintain the tradition of the past as we move forward to meet the challenges of the future.

Our History is distinguished. Our future is bright.

Timeline of Growth

1936	Dr Eugene McLaughlan establishes laboratory in Adelaide
1962	Dr Michael Gribble joins Dr McLaughlan
1989	Expanded into Victoria, relocated the Head Office, Regional Pathology (VIC) acquired
1990	Glendon-Chelmer Pathology (VIC) acquired
1995	National Analytical Laboratories (VIC) acquired Wangaratta Pathology (VIC) acquired Victorian Pathology Services (VIC) acquired
1996	Malaysian Pathology operations commenced
1997	Unipath Laboratories (VIC) acquired Gribbles Radiology (VIC) operations commenced
1998	Medical Practices (VIC) acquired
2001	Gribbles publicly listed General Pathology Laboratories (WA) acquired Medical Practices (WA) acquired Radiology Practices (WA) acquired, NSW Pathology Laboratories (NSW) acquired
2002	Citywide Pathology (NSW) acquired Universal Diagnostic Laboratories (NSW) acquired Agriquality Veterinary Pathology (NZ) acquired Labworks (NZ), veterinary laboratory acquired Endemic Pathology (NSW) acquired Labnet (NZ) veterinary laboratory acquired Alphabiological (NZ) analytical laboratory acquired Gribbles Molecular Science established
2003	THE Pathology (NSW), acquired Specialist Histopathology & Cytopathology (WA) acquired Cutaneous Pathology (WA) acquired Northland Pathology (NZ) acquired
2004	Healthscope Ltd acquired Gribbles
2005	Expanded services into Tasmania
2006	Davies Campbell de Lambert Pathology (NSW) acquired Quest Laboratories (Singapore) acquired