Mercy Health has unveiled plans to demolish a former aged care facility in Abbotsford, just 2km northeast of Melbourne’s CBD, to make way for a new four-storey development featuring 60 private apartments for people aged over 55.
The existing brown brick and concrete building, originally constructed in 1977 as a hostel for convent nuns, was acquired by the Christian-based Not For Profit in 2015. The 92-bed, double-storey facility was permanently closed in April 2023 after being deemed “no longer fit for purpose,” according to Mercy Health.
A spokesperson for Mercy Health said the redevelopment offers “an opportunity to create a modern retirement living option that enables people to age safely and comfortably within their local community,” adding that there is currently limited supply of such accommodation within the City of Yarra.
Located within the larger, heritage-listed Abbotsford Convent precinct, the proposed development must be approved by Heritage Victoria before proceeding to Yarra Council for planning consent. Planning documents note that the existing building and its single-storey connecting link to the Good Shepherd Chapel are not considered to have heritage significance and would be demolished under the proposal.
