Aged care operator Arcare, which is owned by family-run builders Knowles Group, has received approval through the State Significant Development process for 96-bed aged care home Huntlee Arcare, 170km north of Sydney.
The 12,434sqm site in Branxton is currently vacant, located within Huntlee New Town, a masterplanned community being developed by experienced developers LWP Group. A retirement village is planned for an adjacent site and two schools are set to open as part of the masterplanned community by 2028.
Huntlee Arcare will extend over two stories, and include lounge and dining areas, a café, hair salon, and health consulting rooms,with a laundry, kitchen, staff facilities, and communal open spaces.
The $30 million project puts the cost to build at just over $300,000 per bed, significantly lower than the often-quoted cost to build of $500,000 per bed, and up to $800,000 per bed in regional areas.
Arcare, Australia's largest family-owned aged care provider, is one of the most prolific builders in aged care. Last month it opened 91-bed Arcare Croydon, 35km east of the Melbourne CBD, its fourth opening this year. The provider expects to have 60 aged care homes open by the end of 2025, after opening homes in:
- Arcare Werribee, 32km southwest of the Melbourne CBD – 120 beds,
- Arcare Wright, 13km southwest of the Canberra CBD – 98 beds, and
- Arcare Clyde, 48km south east of the Melbourne CBE – 110 beds.
By the end of 2026, it plans to open homes in Hove - their first in South Australia - and Mount Waverley and Sunbury in Victoria.
On top of its building program, Arcare has acquired several aged care homes and sites in recent years, including Not For Profit Mercy Health’s former Maryville Hostel in Boronia, 30km east of the Melbourne CBD, in mid-2024.
The Knowles Group exited the home care sector earlier this year with the sale of its BodeWell Community Care business to Regis Aged Care.
