Family-owned aged care provider Embracia is moving ahead with plans to redevelop the old Kyneton Hospital in Victoria’s Macedon Ranges into an intergenerational aged care and childcare facility.
Located 87km northwest of Melbourne, Kyneton has been identified as a priority region for aged care with a need for additional facilities.
Embracia purchased the gold rush-era hospital site in 2019, and has commenced building works on the first stage of the project, which will comprise a 120-place childcare centre scheduled to open next March opposite the heritage-listed hospital building.
Sarah MacKenzie, Embracia Victoria’s managing director (pictured), told the Midland Express the provider is looking to bring people back to the hospital site, which is planned to include a 120-bed aged care home, function rooms, mixed-used offices, and a café and restaurant.
“We’ll also be running intergenerational programs between the childcare and the aged care, which is something we’re very excited to be working on.
“There is much evidence that bringing the elderly and children together as part of structured engagement programs can have huge benefits for both groups,” she said.
Macedon Ranges Shire Council must now approve the aged care home and Embracia’s other plans for the site before those stages can proceed.
