Published August 2025
At the turn of the century, chiropractor David Leach had returned from working in the UK and was deciding where to start his own practice. Luckily for the misaligned joints of New Farm, he settled on Brunswick St.
“I started the business from scratch… I hung the shingle and started with zero patients. So day one, I was a business owner, chiropractor, cleaner, and receptionist, because I couldn’t afford a staff member to start with,” Mr Leach said.
“It’s good to have that success in business from a very humble beginning, and it’s not without a lot of hard work and dedication.”
25 years later, New Farm Chiropractic Clinic has grown to now have four chiropractors and a loyal client base that travel from all over the state and abroad.
Mr Leach and his wife Beth have also conducted a volunteer Chiropractic clinic in Fiji for the last 13 years which provides otherwise unavailable treatment to the island of Vanuatu Levu.
“When people find what they’re looking for and they trust you… it’s an honour and a privilege to be that person for them,” Mr Leach said.
For 14 years, he rented a cottage at 602 Brunswick Street, before moving into their current premises at Merthyr Village.
Mr Leach said he is grateful to have staff who can present a friendly and familiar face to their clients.
“We’ve had some great people work with us over those 25 years, both in in the professional capacity of our practice, and also our support staff.”
Their Practice Manager Nicole Mauger has been with them for nearly 20 of their 25 years.
“These long-term relationships are really important to me as a business owner and as a person,” he said.
His family has also been involved in the practice, with Mrs Leach assisting in the background and two of his children having worked there.
Mr Leach always hoped one of his children might follow in his footsteps but instead he has found the next best thing.
Their most recent addition to the Chiropractic team, Emma Duffy, has been working at the front desk since she was in high school.
“To have someone like Emma come through who’s been part of our Chiropractic family for that period of time, and now she’s part of our business, is a wonderful thing,” he said.
All their practitioners have an X-ray licence and X-rays will often form part of the diagnostic process. New Farm Chiropractic has a state-of-the-art digital X-ray machine onsite.
Where needed, Mr Leach has formed a great network of specialists and healthcare providers they can refer clients to.
New Farm Chiropractic specialises in the Gonstead method, a specific patient-centred method of diagnosis and treatment.
“It’s all about what the individual needs are, and tailoring the treatment to meet those needs to provide a solution,” Mr Leach said.
Aside from his own practice, he also presents seminars and lectures on the Gonstead method, mentoring not just his own staff but Chiropractors all around Australia.
“I get to be part of their learning and their journey; I had great mentors and it is a wonderful chance to provide that for the next generation.”
