SA retirement village charity seeks extension

The charity, which was created in January 1989, began construction on the retirement village in South Australia's Adelaide Hills in 1995.

Valley of Praise Retirement Village (VPRV) began in Lobethal with five two-bedroom units. It has grown substantially and now contains 68 two- and three-bedroom units with garages.

In 2017, a ‘resident centre’ was opened to provide residents with facilities including a heated pool with spa, gymnasium, theatre, fully equipped caterer’s kitchen, bar, office, reception area and hair salon.

In 2024, in response to growing demand for older people's housing, VPRV purchased a parcel of land next to the retirement village, which contained the recently closed Rising Sun Hotel.

A land division (boundary realignment) was then submitted to incorporate a portion of land behind the hotel into an adjoining vacant allotment owned by VPRV, thereby creating a larger development site to facilitate the expansion of the retirement facility.

Adelaide Hills Council approved the boundary realignment on 7 October 2025.

VPRV is now seeking to construct an additional seven dwellings on the development site to provide additional housing for older people within Lobethal.

Planning Studio, which VPRV has engaged to advise on the proposed expansion, has lodged a development application with Adelaide Hills Council.

The existing retirement village has single-storey dwellings with relatively modest site areas and minimal setbacks. The majority of dwellings are sited in groups of two with an internal wall separating the living areas of the two dwellings.

Each dwelling has a garage under the main roof with vehicular access provided via a relatively wide internal road network.