Bolton Clarke is proposing a contemporary retirement living community at Sargent Street, New Farm, where we previously operated the former Treetops residential aged care home.
Our offer will allow New Farm residents of retirement age to live in age-appropriate dwellings with extra support as needed in a safe, supportive and connected community.
In 2020, we announced these plans and consulted on a design which progressed to Public Notification. Bolton Clarke has deeply and sincerely considered the feedback received across this time, which expressed a mix of concern and support. Respondents generally supported the retirement living proposition, however, there was concern expressed about the height and scale within a residential neighbourhood.
In response, we commissioned and challenged a new design team to closely review stakeholder feedback, including concerns, to reimagine our plans.
We are currently introducing our amended plans to the community before these are lodged as an amendment to our application. Community information sessions were held in early December 2022.
Following further community engagement across late 2022 and early 2023, Bolton Clarke has further amended plans. The key change is to remove the rooftop garden from the southern aspect which interfaces with Hazlewood properties, and partially with Sydney properties. While several measures were proposed to reduce overlooking from this vantage point, the rooftop garden was removed to eliminate this issue for near neighbours.
The new layout across our Sargent Street site is illustrated in the following aerial figure, including key features:
We acquired the Sargent Street property in 1999 as a joint venture with the War Widows Guild. For the next 20 years we provided on-site care and support for up to 88 elderly New Farm residents and built strong relationships with families and local community organisations.
We voluntarily closed the aged care community in 2019 and relocated residents to more modern Bolton Clarke communities.
As an experienced provider of retirement living communities, we understand many people of retirement age want to remain within the neighbourhoods they have long called home. They want to maintain their bonds and remain connected to their community, friends, and family.
Re-purposing the redundant and closed former residential aged care home built in the 1950s.
Provision of high-quality independent living apartments within a new retirement
living community.
Addressing lack of retirement living options in
New Farm.
Allowing seniors and retirees to remain in
New Farm.
Onsite basement car-parking for residents
and staff.
Close to local amenities and public transport.
We considered the property no longer met the standard of amenity consistent with Bolton Clarke’s accommodation offering and was not in keeping with changing community and resident expectations.
Despite our efforts to refurbish the property and maintain sustainable resident numbers, we experienced low and declining occupancy.
Since closing Treetops and re-settling the remaining residents, we have carefully considered an alternative accommodation and service offering for this location.
With a lack of purpose-designed retirement living options for locals, Bolton Clarke is proposing age-appropriate independent living apartments for local residents.
Our new architect firm, Fender Katsalidis, had a clear vision: to create something ‘of New Farm, not just in New Farm’. A place that met the community’s aspirations for the site and elevated senior living, tapping into the growing trend for more boutique retirement offerings.
Through this vision, locals will be able to transition into a modern retirement living community with contemporary apartments, recreation and leisure facilities, social hubs and a range of care and wellbeing services to maintain and sustain autonomy, independence, and a high quality of life.
Retirement living provides comfortable housing and convenient lifestyle options for senior Australians.
Many seniors want to stay in the vibrant, urban neighbourhoods they have called home for many years, where they can continue to enjoy an active lifestyle, pursue their interests and remain connected to their community, friends and family.
Retirement communities allow our residents to age-in-place and, by doing so, to live their best possible life without the challenges of social isolation often associated with downsizing and the move away from established networks.
James Mantis, General Manager, Property Development & Asset Management, Bolton Clarke
During this planning phase we are keen to discuss this project with you.
Please complete our online survey or email the project team at: contact@newfarmboltonclarke.com
Community information sessions were held in early December 2022.
