Southern Cross Care (NSW & ACT) looks to extend aged care services after acquisition
The Not For Profit Catholic operator has announced the purchase of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart’s historic St Joseph’s Convent in Goulburn.
With settlement finalised on 21 January 2026, Southern Cross Care (NSW & ACT) now has full ownership and responsibility for the care, maintenance, and future planning of the site, including the Chapel, which was opened on 5 May 1883.
“This is a place of deep faith, history, and service, and we take seriously our responsibility to care for it in a way that honours its legacy and continues to serve the Goulburn community,” Southern Cross Care (NSW & ACT) Chief Executive Officer Monique Reynolds said.
“Grounded in our Catholic mission, this stewardship allows us to preserve access for the Sisters of Saint Joseph while continuing to support purposeful living for older people, now and into the future.”
Southern Cross Care (NSW & ACT) had entered into a long-term lease in 2005 to operate the 30-bed Tenison Residential Care adjacent to the Convent, and the extension of aged care services is “the hope of the Sisters”.
The operator says it is now actively undertaking strategic planning to consider long-term plans for the site. This includes potential opportunities that may support the delivery of expanded residential aged care services over time, as well as options for affordable housing or supported living.
The last Sisters to live in the Convent left in late 2024. The Sisters of Saint Joseph (founded by St Mary MacKillop and Fr. Julian Tenison Woods) arrived in Goulburn on 14 August 1882.
