Wesley Mission’s latest $200M retirement play

Wesley Mission has unveiled plans for a $200 million-plus retirement village, its second major retirement living proposal in two months.

Development manager Sinclair Brook has lodged a State Significant Development Application through the Housing Delivery Authority pathway for the 218-home project in Ermington, 19km northwest of the Sydney CBD, with Beam Planning leading the planning process.

The application follows Wesley Mission’s plans, lodged in May, to redevelop its Frank Vickery Village at Sylvania, 22km south of the city, into 333 independent living units and a new 94-bed aged care home.

Executive Director – Finance, Property & Information Services, Mark Broadhead, told The Weekly SOURCE the two projects reflected Wesley Mission’s long-term strategy of building retirement communities centred on lifestyle and wellbeing.

“We’re looking to provide fit-for-purpose seniors accommodation with the services that go with it,” Mark said.

“It’s not just about housing. It’s about creating lifestyle communities with green space, wellbeing services, fitness, cafés, chaplaincy and support services.”

The $200-$220 million development comprises a mix of 218 villas and apartments. Subject to approval, construction is expected to begin in mid-2027, with the village to be delivered in stages over approximately three years.

Sinclair Brook described the development as “a highly considered” redevelopment of an underutilised site that would deliver much-needed purpose-built seniors housing while creating walkable green spaces that encourage social connection, activity and healthy ageing.

A century of history

The project will transform a 4.6-hectare site that has been part of Wesley Mission for more than 100 years.

Gifted to Wesley Mission by the Stewart family around the turn of the last century, the land was originally a farm centred on the heritage-listed St Cloud homestead before becoming the Lottie Stewart Hospital, which operated from the 1920s until the 1990s.

The village will restore and incorporate both St Cloud and the original hospital entrance into the masterplan.

“We know the site has a deep history in the community and we really want to respect that through the adaptive reuse of the heritage buildings,” Mark stated.

Unlike the Frank Vickery redevelopment, the project does not include residential aged care. Wesley Mission previously operated residential aged care on the broader site, but that service closed around six years ago.

Instead, the village will focus on retirement living supported by communal facilities, allied health, fitness, cafés and Wesley Mission’s home care services, allowing residents to access additional support as their needs change while remaining in their own homes.

A broader retirement strategy

Mark said the organisation would focus on delivering its two major retirement village developments before considering further expansion.

“We’re not looking to bite off more than we can chew,” he said. “We’ll complete these projects and then see what opportunities come up.”

Together, the Ermington and Sylvania developments would significantly expand Wesley Mission’s retirement living portfolio as the organisation pursues a strategy of integrating retirement living, home care and wellbeing services.

“We really believe retirement living is a great way to care for our residents and care for the community,” Mark said.