mecwacare presses ahead with aged care home rebuild

25 residents have moved into mecwacare Ballan Aged Care, leaving their former hostel accommodation.

The move marks completion of Stage 2 of the Not For Profit’s three-stage $30 million redevelopment project in Ballan, 80km northwest of the Melbourne CBD.

A new communal area at the facility offers views of the Werribee River. The project also includes a new, fully equipped kitchen, replacing a mobile kitchen that has been in use for more than two years.

The original Cowie Street hostel will be demolished, making way for the final stage of the project.

When complete, the aged care home will have increased its capacity from 38 to 42 aged care beds. Facilities will also include three courtyards, two outdoor dining areas, an outdoor deck area, cinema, hair salon, library, cafe, lounge and dining area. 

Not For Profit mecwacare acquired the site in 2021 with the acquisition of Ballan Health, a health hub that, as well as two aged care homes and a retirement village, included a GP clinic, gym, pool, and allied health centre. The provider announced the redevelopment the following year.

“Being located at the heart of our health and community services precinct in Ballan means residents will have access to a GP clinic, allied health services and a retirement village – all part of a broader network designed to provide choice, continuity of care and support older Australians to age well in their local community,” mecwacare Strategy and Transformation Executive General Manager James Cramond told The Moorabool News.

The hub complements mecwacare’s residential and care and home care portfolio in the Ballarat, Geelong and Warrnambool regions.

Completion of the project is expected in the last quarter of the year.

mecwacare operates 22 residential aged care homes, as well as respite stays, home care, community services, retirement living, affordable housing, disability services, and the health hub.

The provider is also growing its portfolio. In November 2025, mecwacare completed the 77-bed John Hood Terrace aged care home in Richmond, 3km east of the Melbourne CBD.

In June last year, the operator also purchased the standalone 51-bed Allanvale Private Nursing Home, in Altona Meadows, 17km southwest of the Melbourne CBD.