Hundreds of Aged Care Units To Be Built At Waverley War Memorial Hospital

The historic Uniting War Memorial Hospital in Waverley will be substantially redeveloped for retirement housing.

Uniting Care has been granted approval to erect several buildings of up to seven storeys — plans that are nine years in the making. 231 units, 23 of which will be classed as affordable, and a 114-room aged care home will be constructed on the grounds.

Whilst some structures will be demolished to make way for the new, those with a heritage listing will be kept, including the Edina building fronting Carrington Street.

Edina, built around the 1860s by merchant and philanthropist Ebenezer Vickery, forms the nucleus of the hospital complex. The building was donated by his family in 1919, and subsequently renovated for its new purpose. Its name commemorates the sacrifices of the First World War. Today, the institution caters to those aged over 65, both inpatients and outpatients.

Uniting working to conserve heritage

Simon Furness is Director of Property and Housing for Uniting in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. “Enhanced community services and facilities, increased green spaces available to residents and the community, and landscaped sensory gardens are all part of the newly-approved $500 million redevelopment of the Uniting Waverley Estate,” he said.

Furness said that it is “set to become an integrated seniors’ precinct with retirement living, residential aged care, and specialist health and wellness services.”

Concern has been raised about the planned uprooting of 95 trees. Nonetheless, Furness said that upon the project’s completion, the site will have more publicly accessible greenery. 

“Uniting has also been working closely with the descendants of the Vickery Family and Council’s heritage team to celebrate, conserve and respect the historic and heritage attributes of the site. By conserving the Victorian heritage and honouring the Vickery bequest, we’ll continue a legacy defined by community service for the next 100 years and beyond.” 

“The conservation of heritage, historical and environmental features is integral to achieving our vision for this site.” 

Men’s shed to relocate for most of a decade

The Waverley Community Men’s Shed is hosted on the hospital grounds by Uniting Care. However, it will be required to move out during construction. The group has been offered new quarters on-site, but the City Hub understands that this is likely to be six to eight years away.

Peter Black, vice president of the men’s shed, says that their accommodation on the hospital grounds has been advantageous.

“We have been provided with a building of some 150 square metres at a peppercorn rent for over 12 years. Additionally, Uniting Care, owners of the hospital, cover the cost of electricity and water and have a canteen within the grounds.”

“As a registered charity, it enables us to carry out an enormous amount of community work for the local people, surrounding hospitals, service clubs, kindergartens and schools.”

“The location is very central for most members, although parking is a little difficult, and the grounds, as many would know, are peaceful and sheltered from outside noise and commotion.”

Furness said that the men’s shed “will need a temporary home while construction takes place, but it will return to a new, purpose-built space at the Uniting Waverley Estate once the redevelopment is complete.”

“In the new development, the men’s shed will have more functional spaces — designed with their input.”

Black says that the group has spent the past three years looking for an alternative site. “On the plus side, Randwick Council has undertaken to build us a dedicated shed on a site in the Botany area, but this may take perhaps five or six years to complete.”

“What we would like to find is an empty building, 200 to 400 square metres with electricity and water connected, available at a peppercorn rent in the Eastern Suburbs.”

If this can be found, then the group may eventually have access to two sheds in the Eastern Suburbs.