Victoria Premier Jacinta Allan has marked the start of construction on VincentCare Community Housing’s seniors’ living redevelopment in Bendigo, part of the State Government’s Big Housing Build and Regional Housing Fund.

The project replaces the existing Kennington site, where six older buildings previously housed 30 independent living units for people aged over 50.

In their place, five new buildings are being developed across the 18,211sqm site. Four will deliver 84 new homes – 64 one-bedroom and 20 two-bedroom – in a mix of apartments and townhouses.

The fifth building will serve as a community hub, including a conference room, offices, interview rooms, workstations, a kitchen and outdoor pergola, alongside landscaped gardens, car parking and bicycle storage.

Premier Allan visited the site on 8 August to announce the works had begun, recording her own interview against a backdrop of scaffolding and construction workers.

“This is going to provide brand new modern homes for more than 100 people in Bendigo over the age of 55 and also to add to the number of homes that are being constructed here on this site,” the Premier said.