The building was designed by the Department of Public Works and was completed in 1908 as the centre for the then bacteriological laboratory on the farm site, at 'De Onderstepoort', 11km North of Church Square, in Pretoria. Today it represents the historical core of what is widely regarded as one of the largest and most important veterinary research institutions in the world. In its time it was associated with Sir Arnold Theiler, Nobel Laureate and a pioneer in the field of veterinary research. It was declared a National Monument under old NMC legislation on 7 October 1983.
As an academic training hospital, the OVAH is expected to facilitate top quality training for final year veterinary and final year veterinary nursing students. The hospital provides modern and high tech facilities and equipment in order to achieve this. For instance, the Outpatients clinic contains student consultation rooms so that final year veterinary students can perform first opinion consultations, and learn how to interact with owners while clinically examining their animals. There is a dedicated student theatre containing a number of theatre tables and anaesthetic machines to enable each final year veterinary student to perform dog and cat sterilisations under direct supervision of specialist veterinary surgeons. There are student labs in several areas of the hospital so that students can examine blood smears and various other samples – as they will be expected to do once they are qualified.
"The best doctor in the world is a veterinarian. He can't ask his patients what is the matter - he's got to just know."
— WILL RODGERS
