 First established as the Melbourne Dental Hospital, the facility began treating patients on 12 September 1890 from its location at 225 Lonsdale Street, opposite the Melbourne Hospital.The hospital was staffed by volunteer dentists – a result of tireless work by community-spirited dentist John Iliffe 
The Hospital has relocated a number of times over the years.In 1897 it moved to 189-191 Lonsdale Street where it shared a location with the Australian College of Dentistry.