Our Story

Total Eyecare celebrated our 70th anniversary in 2016.

Our commitment to optometry in southern Tasmania began in Hobart in 1946 with the establishment of Ken Iredale’s first optometry practice on the corner of Elizabeth and Macquarie Streets in the old Colonial Mutual Life (CML) Building.

Over the years the small practice grew and merged with other small independent optometry practices to eventually become Total Eyecare Optometrists.

Past partners have included Brian Sims AM, Micheal Knipe AM, Bruce Palmer, Stephen Pereira and Brett Jenkinson.  Today the Partnership consists of Andrew Koch, Andrew Maver, Wesley Robertson, Bev Reid and Lee Baumwol.

The only two Tasmanian Optometrists ever to be awarded the Member of the Order of Australia Medal (AM) for services to Optometry were both Total Eyecare Optometrists, Brian Sims and Micheal Knipe.  This is a demonstration of a strong commitment to excellence in our field.

We now have eight locations in southern Tasmania: Hobart, Sandy Bay, Howrah, Kingston, Claremont, New Norfolk, Sorell and Huonville.

Total Eyecare has the finest team of experienced Optometrists, each with 10 years or more clinical experience.  We are the largest and most experienced independent provider of quality eyecare in Southern Tasmania.

Even though we are the longest serving eye care group in Tasmanian, our dedication to serving the public and providing the most comprehensive eyecare and service remains the same as it did in the beginning.

Company Milestones

1945
Ken Iredale starts his practice at 18 Elizabeth Street, Hobart.
1945
1966
Brian Sims joins Ken Iredale in practice.
1966
1976
Micheal Knipe joins Iredale and Sims.
1976
1984
Practice is relocated to 99 Macquarie Street, Hobart.
1984
1985
Ken Iredale retires.
1985
1988
Andrew Maver joins the group with his Sandy Bay practice.
1988
1989
The group now have full time practices at Macquarie Street, Sandy Bay and Kingston, whilst also visiting the Franklin District Hospital.

Stephen Pereira joins the partnership. The group join Australia's Independent Optometrists (now ProVision).
1989
1990
The Visioncare optical laboratory is established.
1990
1991
Huonville becomes a full time practice.
1991
1992
Shoreline (Howrah) practice is opened.
1992
1993
Bruce Palmer joins the partnership with his practice in Liverpool Street, Hobart. New Norfolk practice becomes full time.
1993
1994
There are now 7 full time practices, with visits to Cygnet and Franklin.
1994
1995
Andrew Koch joins the partnership.
1995
1999
New Town practice opened.
1999
2000
The group takes the identity of Total Eyecare, and implements its first formal business plan. Wesley Robertson joins the partnership. The practice management structure is changed with the appointment of a CEO and Practice Coordinators in every location.
2000
2001
Bev Reid amalgamates her Moonah practice with TECO and joins the partnership.
2001
2002
Total Eyecare Optometrists participate as volunteers in the East Timor Eye program and have kept this up to the current day.
2002
2008
Brett Jenkinson joins the partnership.
2008
2013
Claremont and Sorell practices open.
2013
2015
Claremont and Sorell practices open.

Micheal Knipe honoured in Australia Day Awards with an AM award.
2015

Why Choose Us?