IRT to reinvent its first seniors’ high-rise for today’s market

IRT Diment, the first seniors’ living high-rise building in the Wollongong CBD, will undergo an $11 million redevelopment after approval from Wollongong City Council. 

The 50-year-old site, which is named after one of IRT’s founders, Dr Max Diment, originally combined retirement living and residential aged care. In 2022, IRT shut the aged care services in the towers, noting the size and layout as no longer fit for purpose. 

IRT had discussed with council the potential to turn it into a residential flat building before deciding to retain it for seniors’ living. The upgrade will retain the tower of the complex and see a significant change to the façade. The 102 independent living units inside will also be refurbished, as will the adjacent buildings on the lower level. 

“This transformation honours our past while delivering a future-focused, cost-accessible community that meets the evolving needs of older Australians. It’s about creating spaces that foster wellbeing, connection and lifestyle – and a place residents can truly be proud to call home,” IRT Group CEO Ross Gallagher said. 

Construction company SHAPE has been appointed as the principal contractor for Diment’s redevelopment, with Stage 1 of construction scheduled to begin this month and practical completion expected for early 2027. 

Diment residents will be supported to temporarily relocate ahead of construction and IRT will then assist them in returning to their newly refurbished homes once the project is complete. 

Since Diment was built in 1971, IRT has grown to operate more than 40 communities across New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory and Queensland.  

IRT hopes to deliver 800 new homes in the next ten years and, alongside the Diment redevelopment, is proposing:  

• a community-integrated seniors housing project in the South Coast town of Moruya;  
• an integrated seniors’ living community in Milton, 222km south-west of Sydney; and  
• a State Significant Development plan for a seniors’ living development in Woonona.