Anglican Retirement Villages (ARV) has bought new land and buildings, including another former hotel, to expand its network of villages as well as accommodation for older people at risk of homelessness.

ARV’s first housing assistance project was the transformation of the former Thurles Castle Hotel last year in Chippendale. “Providing for older people at risk of homelessness is a key element of our expression of Christian mission,” says ARV’s CEO Rob Freeman.

A new purpose-built housing assistance village at Penrith is now on the drawing board. Land has been purchased and a development application granted on a block near the Penrith CBD and, once construction begins this year, it is expected the site could house 20 people within 18 months.

In addition another former hotel, a guesthouse and a bank building will add another 60 housing assistance places in the next two years. ARV has purchased the Taverners Hill Hotel in Leichhardt, old guesthouse

The Cecil in Katoomba and a building in Botany that used to be a bank.
“We have begun the planning process to reconfigure these buildings for our purposes,” Mr Freeman says. “Our hope is to build a network of such services across areas of particular need,” adding that the

organisation receives no government assistance for this initiative.
The network of ARV villages is also expanding. After the announcement of plans for a new village in

Rooty Hill (SC, April), enlargement of the village in the new suburb of Caddens near Kingswood in western Sydney is under way – as is construction of a new village at The Ponds, adjacent to Stanhope Gardens.

A significant feature of the Rooty Hill village is that half of the units will be offered on a rental basis, ensuring there are no financial barriers to entry.

ARV’s general manager for governance and communications, Ross Pendlebury, says the new centres will be integrated with existing Anglican ministry.

“Discussions are already under way with local parishes at Rooty Hill and The Ponds on ways to partner in ministry to older people, with a view to seeing seamless integration between village ministry and wider ministry to seniors in the area,” he says.

“A partnership has been in place with Kingswood for some time,” he adds, “and we expect this will be further expanded as Caddens becomes operational.”

Land has also been secured for a village in Milperra and design work will commence shortly. In all, the new and expanded sites will cater for more than 900 people in retirement living and residential care.

“All our new villages will offer the continuum of care and service for which ARV is renowned,” Mr Freeman says. “Most importantly, like all our existing villages, these new villages will be vibrant communities that provide a platform for the expression of Christian love, be it through practical care or ministry of the word.” 

Photo: Villas under construction at the ARV village at Caddens near Kingswood.